Hello,
I’ve read a lot online and here, and saw the post recommending to use chelated Iron supplement.
My question is why is the chlorosis only in my climbing Rose Angela and not in any of the surrounding plants. Also I notice it usually lessens as the season progresses. I give the rose a heaping of good soil mixed half and half with manure in spring and the other day gave it a weak solution if a liquid rose formula fertilizer, simply because I have it and thought it could help. The climbing rose is situated behind the garage growing up a support attached to the garage. I’ve always assumed the screenings used around the foundation of the garage are quite alkaline so affecting the rose or could it be poor drainage, poor root growth, not enough sun exposure on the lower half of the plant etc. The plant is smothered in blooms right now, it’s first flush and incredibly vigorous, so it always seems so happy, but the leaves are variations of light green to lime green and some even lean towards yellow. Worse near the bottom. As I say, they tend to darken up somewhat as the season progresses. Perhaps somewhat improved a few weeks after if I fertilize with weak mix of soluable, as I mentioned. Any suggestions… Thanks you
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners. I commend you for all the research you’ve done concerning the chlorosis on your climbing rose. Roses enjoy acidic soil, while your other plants aren’t as impacted by your more alkaline soil. An interesting article from the American Rose Society discusses the importance of healthy leaves for healthy rose blooms. The article goes on to state:
“Yellowing of leaves or chlorosis results from deficiency of nitrogen, iron (veinal chlorosis), sulfur, magnesium (marginal chlorosis), calcium (marginal chlorosis), manganese (interveinal chlorosis) and molybdenum (interveinal chlorosis)”.
Adding a rose-specific fertilizer should bring back the green to your rose leaves. More information on how and when to fertilize your roses can be found in a previous response in our archives: Fertilizing roses
Enjoy your lovely climbing rose!