Everyone loves roses, but the continuous need to spray toxic pesticides on these plants can take all the joy out of gardening. Organic strategies can be used:

*Site selection: Roses require at least six hours of full sun per day. The soil should be rich in organic matter and be well-drained.

*Rose selection: Select hardy, healthy, and vigorous-growing varieties. Look for varieties that are genetically resistant to black spot and other diseases. This genetic resistance will be your best defense against disease problems.

*Planting: Don't crowd them too closely together. Plant them at the recommended spacing to allow for good air movement and sunlight within the planting.

*Irrigation: Roses are big drinkers of water, but water your roses carefully. Avoid splashing the leaves when watering. Water the plants in the morning so that any foliage that gets wet will dry quickly during the day. Don't water during the evening hours because foliage that stays wet overnight is vulnerable to infection from powdery mildew and other diseases.

*Mulching: Put organic mulch such as shredded wood chips or cocoa bean hulls around the base of plants to conserve moisture and moderate temperatures in the bed.

*Sanitation: Good sanitation is critical. Prune roses to eliminate winter-damaged, diseased, and dead canes. Do a good job of cleaning up your roses in fall and early spring. During the growing season, remove leaves that become infected with disease.

*Controlling insects: Severe infestations are not very common, but be on guard. Safe-to-use insecticidal soaps will kill many insects that you spray directly. Organic chemicals containing pyrethrin or rotenone will kill insects, plus give you some residual insect-killing power. But be advised that although pyrethrin and rotenone are organic, they are still toxic and should be used only when necessary.