Hi Carla :) Blackspot is not a problem here. I'll see a little blackspot and occasionally anthracnose on roses that are neglected in this area. I'm guessing that was imported when the rose was purchased. Humidity is usually so low that blackspot just doesn't thrive.
Powdery mildew is a problem. I wash the foliage on our roses twice a week and don't see pm even on our mildew magnets. That does lead to scoldings by people that insist I should not get our roses wet in the evenings. I try to explain to them that it doesn't apply here. Our roses need the moisture in the evenings and nights when we have single digit humidity. Most won't listen. They read in a book not to have roses wet at night. It doesn't matter that our foliage puts theirs to shame. They refuse to take our unique conditions into consideration. Excuse the mini rant. I had a neighbor get very upset with me the other day and the incident is still fresh in mind.
One bad thing here.... I gave fungicide a try for a few years. Foliage looked worse using fungicide than without. Now I have leftover bottles I haven't touched in 4 years. I could use that space they are taking up in the basement :) I know... shame on me.

digger

Hmmm...I would think the neighbor would take one look at your fabulous gardens and would be asking YOU for advice and not be scolding you. Some folks. Anyway, keep on' keepin' on. BTW, did you ever manage to buy the property next door so you can plant some more beauties?
-terry

Dave:

I don't want to grill you on your rose care but can I ask a quick question? When you say you wash your lovely roses are we talking with plain ole water? So a heavy spritz with the hose?

Thank you!

Kate

Oh, I will never have roses that look like yours. I don't think we can move to Montana for roses either. I would like to see Montana one day, one imagines and hears beutiful images of blue skies and horses. Well you are very lucky and you two have the most gorgeous roses.

Thanks,
Carla

You just thought I was out of my cottonpick'n mind before... I use a very hard, fine spray to clean the underside of foliage. Petals get blasted 10 feet in the air if I don't deadhead first.
I can't post a photo right now. Here is a link: Washing foliage to our album page. I had to turn the water down for the pic. The wind shifted after I got it set up and the camera started getting wet. It gives you an idea of the operation. I use a long wand with an adjustable, articulating head. It takes about 3 hours to give all the roses a good washing. The upper side of foliage gets a quick shot as I move through. Deb has gotten very good at hiding her laughter when I get a faceful of water. I'm always soaked by the time I get done.
The washing is what leads to the scoldings. Our yard has become a bit notorious over the years. Many people drive by to look. Some just have to stop to tell me the error of my ways :) It does look crazy.
Deb and I go through before the washing and deadhead. We do an aphid and slug patrol too. We squish the ones we find. The slugs are easier to track before I blast them off their perch. The aphids? I just like squishing them. The washing takes care of most we don't find on patrol. Spidermites don't like the washing either.
I have to be careful when some roses are in full bloom. For example, Iceberg will flop to the ground if I get all the blooms on that rascal full of water. Some foliage gets impaled on thorns when the water blasts the leaves up. Deb goes through after I do and frees them. What a team :) There really is very little damage done.

Terry, there are some that look and listen :) Don't get me wrong though, I learn from others here too. Some just refuse to learn. Negotiations are ongoing for the lot next door. I told Deb that I was paving the whole lot as soon as I tear that shack down, no more roses! She just laughed at me and said, "Yeah, right".

Kate, hope that helped explain my insanity... I mean foliage wash.

Thanks Carla :) My ashes are to be spread up in the Pryor Mountains just south of us in the Wild Horse Range. You don't want to get me started about horses, LOL.
I sure am glad you aren't like the Carla here. That is the name of the knowitall neighbor I had the recent discussion with. I think she hates me :)

digger

Thanks Dave! Most helpful.

Kate

Even here in coastal VA, we rely on the water-blaster to maintain our roses but as you might imagine, it's done very early in the day. The device I have was made by a rosarian & I've had it, oh 20 or 30 years..! It has a brass nozzle that produces the upward spray and yes, I still get soaked. At the arboretum douching the roses has become a popular job! I really enjoy your responses and the pictures you've shared. Good luck on the lot!

My pleasure Kate :)

Thanks Barbara :) I have my old homemade contraption around somewhere. It was 6 feet of galvanized pipe with an elbow and a brass nozzle on it. It was a workout packing the thing around. I only washed foliage every couple weeks back then. We had a severe spidermite infestation a few years ago. I began washing every other day to knock them down. I noticed even the pm magnets didn't have any. I cut back on the washing. A little powdery mildew would show on some roses at once per week. I think Deb and the roses have a conspiracy going.... they like seeing me get soaked twice a week.

I think the pictures you have posted of your roses and clematis should be enough to prove to people that you know what you're doing. Would you be willing to post what you do to feed your beauties? It might help those of us whose roses don't produce as well as yours do.

Digger, I do the same thing here (rose douche) only in the morning. It really helps with bugs, slugs and PM. Plus I just like seeing the clean shiny leaves. I don't spray fungicide after July, and the roses do just fine with their weekly bath. Thanks for all your enabling over the years!
Kathy

Ophelia, we use MiracleGro or MG for Roses, whichever is cheaper. We feed on the light side. I've never hurt roses feeding them too little. Besides that I'm a tightwad. They get epsom salt and chelated iron in spring. I topdress the beds with screened (half inch screen) compost from our pile in spring too. Thanks for the compliments :) Strange thing is... the garden itself is much more impressive than the pics are. I try to be pleasant with all visitors but sometimes I have ask them if I can come visit their roses and see how much better their foliage is.

Hi Kathy :) I'm outta here before dawn to go to work weekdays. I've thought of washing the roses early on weekends. That would get the lawn wet. We spend a lot of time on our hands and knees out there on weekends. It is nice having a climate where I can get them wet in the evenings. I get home from work and that is my presoak before I take a shower. It is very enjoyable seeing the clean, shiny leaves. Of course we won't mention the windstorms that come through and the dust on the wet leaves becomes mud :) Ya gotta have sense of humor to grow roses in Montana. I keep telling myself that....

The clematis foliage responds to the washing even more that the rose foliage.

Dave, I have been admiring the pics of you and Deb's roses, and whatever you are doing is working wonders. I agree that the spraying with water works wonders for PM and aphids. Some people just have to think they know it all, pay no attention to those people. Your roses are beautiful and healthy. Are you getting any new roses???

Dave, I just want you to know that I had the worst PM last year and in my climate that is rare. It was making me crazy and I finally remembered what you said about washing the foliage off and darned if it didn't work!! Told a friend in another state about it and he tried it with great success. What a smart cookie you are. Of course, you already knew that :-). Tell Deb I said hello.

Carol

Thank you Maureen :) We are pretty lucky. We have a Lucille Ball coming. We are maxed out on the number of roses we can care for and still have fun. We didn't get any new ones last year. I'm not counting seedlings. I don't let the numbskulls bother me too much.

Deb says 'Hi Carol!' :) It is great hear the foliage washing helped you and your friend. Powdery mildew can drive a foliage nut nutz, LOL.

Thanks, Dave. Sounds pretty simple - I think I can handle that, lol.

I usually get soaked feeding the roses too. Forgot to mention we feed them every 3 to 4 weeks during the season. Don't remember how often directions say to feed. We have some large plastic trash cans. Deb fills one with water and the MG. I dip 2 watering cans out of the other and feed the roses. Don't know how I get so wet doing that but I always do.
I used to let the cans sit full of water a few days so chlorine could dissipate. Actually, I still do for the first 2 cans. We have too many roses to do that and still feed all in one shot. I think the water dept uses a longer lasting chlorine these days too.
I have a hose end feeder and have used it a couple times. We have more fun with the cans :)

It makes perfect sense, because I had some plants get PM last summer, did some reading on it, and found out it tends to occur when there is a lack of rain. What I was reading actually suggested spraying the plants with water. Your roses are proof that it works!

Deanna