yup- sulphur was my answer too (hell, it's what non-organic folks use, too.)
baltic, interesting idea, but i don't get the crap sctatched out of my arms every year with my %$#@ing roses for them to smell like garlic! :P
zombie, what i'm thinking you might mean is you don't wanna spray, sulphur or not... am i wrong?
because i spray once in awhile (not enough to make much of a difference, sigh) but what i really recommend is to get in contact with rose growers (or the aggie folks) in your area and see what has been proven to be blackspot/mildew resistant.
usually things decribed as having leathery leaves are somewhat more resistant, but my best do-ers have delicate leaves-'zepherine drouhin' & 'ballerina' ('heritage' is pretty good too- the only one of my english roses that has lived and isn't a freakin' mess. and my poor 'reine de violettes' is bald by july.)
mind you, i live in serious se humidity- and my standards are 'will it keep enough spotty leaves to live through summer?'. oh, california roses- that was the place to grow 'em (wistful sigh).
btw, 'zepherine' rocks for anybody; climbing, gorgeous, beautiful smell, no thorns, and blooms in shade
what more can you want in a rose?
suse
