Black Spot Attack

Oh Louise, I'm sorry I can't answer your question but it must be awful for you to watch this every year :~((
I'm sure you'll get your answer this time though. Good luck and fingers crossed.

black spot is a fungal infection. you should be able to buy a suitable fungicide for treating this at the garden centre.
pickup all the dropped leaves but do not compost them as you will infect your compost with the fungal spores.

if you can burn them that is the best option. failing that into the council compost bin or household bin.

Would you spray it now, before autumn ?
I can see 3 leaves with black spot today and i now fear the worst .... it's obviously getting ready to happen all over again :(((((((

yes spray now and then follow the instructions as to repeat sprayings.

You still haviing this problem!!! I would suggest you drench the soil round the plant as well in case the infection is in the soil too....

That's the general advice in the books I've checked out, too, Louise. Sorry you have this problem - especially surprising where you live, as salty air should be helpful, I would have thought.

I'm wondering if i've arrested the problem because the number of affected leaves has NOT increased and once it starts it usually just escalates.

I DID spray with a fungicide AND i've been watering them too.
I've sprayed every year and it's not made a scrap of difference so i'm really not sure what's making this slight difference this time but i've got fingers and toes crossed that i don't get another repeat.

Watch this space.

(i've seen several people on here asking this very same question and they've removed all the plants but i'm not going to as the plants always come back beautifully healthy each spring).