The Rose Leaves Are Turning and Drying Up

Season and Zone

• Roses are deciduous shrubs and go dormant during cold winters. Dead leaves in fall and winter mean that the roses are finished with their growing season and preparing for dormancy. Roses survive only to certain winter temperatures, though, so dead leaves in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 and lower may mean rose death.

Soil and Nutrition

• Roses need rich, supportive soil with moisture retention and room for growth. They fail in tight, poor soil, standing water and crowded plantings. Turn 3 to 4 inches of organic compost into the soil around a failing rosebush to increase soil quality and nutrition for foliage and root health. Repeat this step once a month to maintain an even supply of nutrition.

Water

• Roses are thirsty plants and fail without enough water. Signs of initial dehydration include wilted leaves, stems and blooms. These signs progress to yellowing and then browning foliage, dried leaves and brittle stems. Water roses with 2 inches of water every week and use up to 3 inches of organic mulch on the soil to maintain moisture. If your roses are still dry, increase waterings to 2 inches of water every three to four days.

Disease

• Roses are subject to bacterial and fungal diseases and experience foliage discoloration, deformation and death with some infections. Rust causes bright orange spots on the undersides of leaves, while blackspot causes dark, inky blotches on the leaves. Both diseases lead to yellowing, drying and death. Spray infected roses with a fungicidal spray or fungicide to prevent the fungus or bacteria from spreading to other foliage, and prune away infected or dead leaves.