and their beautiful blooms captivate and lovers everywhere. Few gardeners haven't dreamed of growing flawless roses of their own. But unfortunately, they often have unpleasant company. The fungal disease known as black spot jeopardises rose health, longevity and beauty.

Considered the most significant rose disease nationwide, black spot reveals itself as dark, rounded leaf spots. Cool, wet spring days and moist nights are prime conditions for black spot to take hold on roses and spread. Once black spot becomes active, the disease cannot be stopped without an effective fungal control method.

Instead of using a chemical fungicide that has the potential for toxic build-up, the gardening pros at Moowy recommend a natural alternative to "fight the plant-killing disease" - baking soda.

They said: "Baking soda spray is a popular choice, as it keeps roses healthy, prevents the spread of rose black spot and offers protection against powdery mildew."

It's effective as a fungicide because it alters the pH of the leaf surface, making it inhospitable to the fungal spores.

For this method, add one teaspoon of baking soda to a litre of warm water, and spray the mixture onto the leaves, ensuring complete coverage.

If you find the baking soda spray isn't sticking to the leaves, you can add a teaspoon of dish soap to the solution.

Apply it to roses only lightly once every week or once after every hard rain, no more. A light coating, no more than once a week, will not harm roses, and the baking soda will not accumulate too heavily in the soil.

Once the fungus has gone, stop using baking soda to prevent any potential accumulation over time.

Apply the chemical spray early in the morning and not during the hottest part of the day. Otherwise, the heat of the sun combined with the spray can burn the leaves.

For a guaranteed way to avoid this disease, consider planting disease-resistant rose varieties to minimise the risk of black spot and other fungal diseases. For example, floribundas, shrub roses, and climbing roses are generally more resistant, while hybrid tea roses, grandifloras, and miniature roses are more susceptible.