In zone 5, Pink Promise(AARS winner in 2009) can get to the height of about 6ft. It is very healthy and robust looking bush. And it is disease resistant. Compare to the roses of 10 years ago, it is a much better rose.

Personally, I would recommend organic rose gardening though the problems you have been having remain true for a while. But for a long run, it will pay off and the bush becomes healthier and strong to ward off the problems.

Thanks for the response but can I ask exactly what "organic rose gardening" means?

I did start using the Bayer 3-in-1 Systemic fertilizer, fungicide and insecticide last year and this year to try and help prevent and get rid of the insects and fungus problems. I don't add any other type of chemical fertilizers to any of my plants. I just use compost.

You are free to choose whichever method of growing roses you like, but many rose growers who DO spray fungicides seldom use insecticides. Most insecticides are non-selective meaning you are killing the good bugs with the bad bugs. This can actually lead to more problems then you originally had. In the south the majority of roses will suffer from some sort of fungal disease unless sprayed preventatively. Northerners have less growing time and less heat/humidity for the disease pressure to build up so your fungicide spray schedule will not be as often for blackspot. The term organic means different things to different people. Good growing culture whether you spray or not is important for the health of the rose. A well fed, well watered rose growing in good garden soil is like a healthy person who eats his broccoli. You feel better and can ward off illness better. Many organic people grow only roses that are extra disease resistant (almost all Hybrid Teas are excluded from their gardens) and if Blackspot breaks out they let it go, just picking off infected leaves if they have the time and ignoring damage if they don't. My personal choice is to spray fungicides to prevent infection and to not spray insecticides at all unless the health of the plant is in question. Bayer has products that are just fungicides without the insecticide, my advice is to switch to one of their other products.

I agree with maryl

The main reason for a good organic gardening is to make the soil environment healthy with plenty of microorganism to help plants absorb more nutrients from soil. Any insecticides and strong chemical fertilizers interfere with this nature's balance and kill the microorganisms. Then, the plant become less healthy and can not withstand for the attack from insects or diseases.

Fungicide usage is a difficult question because, for some environments, it is necessary to spray. I used in the past a organic fungicide("Green Cure", potassium carbonate based fungicide) very effectively.

The pure approach to the true rose organic gardening may be:

1: Never use insecticides
2: Use compost as much as possible. Use compost tea. Use organic fertilizers (fish emulsion etc.) if you have to use chemical fertilizers, use slow release ones.
3: Before planting, prepare soil well with plenty of organic materials.
4: Use drip irrigation (Never spray water over the leaves)
5: Use mulch to prevent weed growth and water evaporation.
6: Use organic fungicides like "Green Cure" if necessary.
7: Choose the rose varieties which are resistant to disease.
8: Choose a sunny location for roses.
9: you have to spend time in the garden to monitor and have fun.