Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Roses require a good deal of attention in the spring to ensure they flourish, but gardeners should be particularly vigilant about their leaves in the coming weeks. The warm, rainy April showers create ideal conditions for black spot disease, a fungus that spreads through water. This infection begins at the base of the plant with round black spots appearing on the leaves, which will eventually turn yellow and drop off. In humid weather, black spot disease can spread rapidly and significantly weaken roses, stunting their growth. While black spot won't kill roses outright, it will cause significant stress, diverting all the plant's energy into fighting the infection rather than producing flowers. Roses affected by the disease are unlikely to bloom, and any flowers that do emerge will likely be small or misshapen. Weaker roses are more prone to pests and other diseases that can infiltrate the garden and will prove fatal to roses if the plant is unable to fend them off, reports the Express. (Image: (Image: Getty)) (Image: (Image: Getty)) How to prevent black spot disease from damaging roses: Don't panic, as it's quite simple to prevent black spot disease if roses are pruned annually, as increased airflow around the plant will keep it dry and prevent the spores from spreading. Also, ensure you're watering roses at their base as close to the soil as possible, as wet leaves can make the plant highly susceptible to infection. However, if you find your roses besieged by infection, gardening enthusiast and A Garden for the House founder Kevin Lee Jacobs has revealed the "smartest" method to tackle it using cow's milk. Kevin explained: "A spray composed of one part milk and two parts water is the best answer to the disease. When applied weekly, the solution controls blackspot as well as any synthetic fungicide, including Chlorothalonil." It might raise eyebrows, but cow's milk boasts natural proteins and enzymes that possess antifungal properties, capable of exterminating the spores. Milk shines brightest when basked in sunlight, transforming into an anti-fungal fortress that also lays down a slim protective layer, thwarting spores from clinging onto your plants. Kevin further advised: "Spraying is work, but it isn't hard work. Just be sure to wet both the top and bottom of the leaves. Pick up any fallen leaves, too. Otherwise, the spores of the fungus can splash back onto the rose during a rain storm." Following the implementation of his milky mixture on his roses, Kevin reported with contentment that it "really works" at dispatching the disease. To boot, scattered cracked corn – a poultry feed staple – can fortify the soil, keeping gardens in prime condition and roses untroubled by such irksome fungi. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.