Get Those Pests Out Of Your Roses - Tips For Keeping Your Blooms Bug-Free

Few undertake the challenge that is growing roses. Most do not want the stress associated with keeping the plants pest free, and the complicated processes there in. Learning how to deal with pest problems before they start is essential to good gardening. Using good gardening skills, maintaining the proper soil hydration and getting rid of fallen or diseased leaves or buds will help the roses fight off most pests. In addition, daily examination of your roses will help head off a pest attack before they've been able to infest a large portion of the garden. You can get rid of bugs with squishing the bugs, or if you prefer to use the hose, that works, too. Organic pesticides are the next level of pest control you should go to, safe for your environment, as well as your and your family's health. Here is a list of the pests you might encounter and some of the methods that are available to help control them.



Aphids



The moment you spot an aphid it's in your best interest to get rid of them. Coming in the springtime they love to eat the sap from the new growth. With amazing reproductive potentiality, the plant can be, without embellishment, covered in them!

Earwigs



Have you seen chewing on your rose buds and the new growth during the day, but no sign of the culprits? Chances are you have earwigs. Keeping a low daytime profile, this soft-bodied yellowish insect comes out a night, and uses a pair of curved pincers on your new growth. A chemical soil drench around your roses should stop the reproductive habits of this culprit.

Inchworms



Sadly, the best way to get rid of this pest is the good old-fashioned hand picking. Tiny caterpillars that overrun your rosebuds and young leaves in the spring have to be hand picked off.



Japanese Beetles



Probably the bane of most rose growers is a Japanese beetle infestation. With an insatiable hunger for the blooms and sometimes even the leaves an infestation could be disastrous. Generally going after the lighter colored and stronger scented varieties, this pest is a problem year after year. Laying its eggs in your lawn, this pest gets ready for next summer's blooms. When getting rid of them, there are two common ideas, a neem-based product can get rid of them, or in either the morning or evening, place a bowl full of soapy water under your plant and tap gently. Because the bugs are resting, it is easier to get them off your plant.

Leaf-Cutter Bees



Often nothing more than an annoyance, leaf-cutter bees cut small, circular holes in the leaves of your plant. They use the circles to build their nests. Often preferring the leaves of the older varieties of garden roses, this pest generally stays away from the more modern hybrids. A chemical solution to the problem is not necessary, as the bugs do not cause permanent damage to the plant.



Leafhoppers

Pale spotting on the leaves signals that you may have these very small yellow or green insects. Spraying the foliage with an insecticide should get rid of them.

Rose Weevil



At about 1/4 inch long, this long snouted bug can't wait to feed and lay its eggs inside your rose bugs. Removal of the affected buds should be all that is required in controlling this pest.



Rose Chafers



Seen eating both the flower buds and petals, these grayish beetles are about half an inch long. When you first notice the problem, spray with insecticide and that should control the problem.



Rose Gall



This is caused when a certain species of wasp secretes a chemical that causes a swelling for them to lay their eggs inside. The most effective way of controlling this pest is to cut off the cane affected by the wasp and get rid of it before the larvae have a chance to appear.



Rose Midge



Devastating to your roses, the blooms in particular, the larvae from this minute insect feast on the tips where the roses buds should be forming. Sadly, the midge has no enemies in the animal kingdom as far as we know. The larvae hatch in the soil, so the best way to control them is the use of chemicals in the soil to kill them as they emerge.



Sawfly Larvae



Just like the inchworms, the best way to get rid of this pest is to hand pick them off the leaves, paying careful attention to the underside of the leaves. Similar to a caterpillar in look, the larvae are light green and some have black spots. They enjoy feeding on the foliage of your roses in the spring.



Spider Mites



Doing most of their damage in hot dry weather, these pests feast on the juices of your rosebush from the underside of the leaves. Their handiwork results dried, yellow leaves that will after time, fall off the bush. As they are not insects insecticides do not work in controlling them, the best course of action is to use a strong spray from your hose making sure you get the undersides of the leaves as well.