Let's talk roses.... 

This lovely specimen is my Peace rose.  Gorgeous right?  And this bloom was 3 days old so it was starting to curl. It came down with blackspot this year.  Once again, my heart skipped a beat or two.

rosemagazine.com explains Blackspot: "Diplocarpon rosae, is a nasty fungus that manifests itself on rose bushes as black spots on leaves progressing to black spots fringed with yellow rings on both sides of the leaves. As they develop the spots enlarge."

As the disease progresses, the bush will lose all of it's foliage leaving just the branches and twigs behind.  The newer the leaves, the more susceptible they are to fungal infection. 

photo courtesy: mississippibotanicalgarden.com

Wet, humid weather is perfect for the fungus to grow in. When the temperatures hit 75 or more for 7 or more hours, the fungus is activated and germinates.  Three to ten days later, spots will begin to show up on the leaves. 

After the symptoms are visible, new spores will be created every three weeks.  (And since thousands and thousands of spores are created during each burst of reproduction.... YIKES!!!  It won't take long for a rose garden to be affected... it's like a plague for roses.)  And those spores can be carried on the wind (natural source of transportation), or carried on insects, humans, and animals (mechanical transportation).  rosemagazine.com also advises "Spores can over winter in the garden so autumn cleanup is crucial otherwise the entire cycle can repeat itself the following spring and summer"

photo taken from bayeradvanced.com

 This product is my go-to for roses.  All in One.  Ahhh.  A ray of simplicity in the life of an adult college student (I say adult because I have WAY more responsibilities at home than a traditional student.)  But, I digress.  Back to All in One.  Fertilizer.  Insect Control. Disease Control.  Ahh.  Apply it and go.  Now the application varies. Bayer offers liquid (known as systemic) and granulated which is a slow release.  Liquid is what I pull out when I need big guns. Fast action.  Granules require water to bring them into solution. Because the liquid is, well liquid, it is drawn up through the vascular system faster than a granule.

The active ingredient Tebuconazole is a broad spectrum fungicide that will treat many different fungi, including Blackspot, Powdery Mildew (that's the one my poor Peace has come down with a few years ago), Rust, and Southern Blight. All the nasty little organisms that will ruin my Peace.  Not on my watch.

For your viewing pleasure/reference....

Southern Blight

Powdery mildew

Rust