What are some natural ways to keep pests off roses?

Question

We just built a pergola and planted climbing roses of a hearty old rose type, and want to ensure we keep them healthy. We refuse to use any chemicals, and make our own compost and use rabbit pen droppings as fertilizer. They are growing well, but one of my nearby rose bushes has something eating at the leaves, leaving them with little holes in them. What can I do to prevent this?

Answer 1

The most common insects found on rosebushes are aphids which will literally suck the life out of the rosebush. Knock them off with a strong spray of water & use baby shampoo or Ivory dish detergent spray (because other products have proven to be caustic and burned foliage). The recommended dilution rate is 1 oz. Ivory Dishwashing Liquid to 1 gallon of water.

Antidote for Rose Aphid
1 orange peel, coarsely chopped
1 tbsp. baby shampoo or mild dish detergent
2 cups water
blend on high speed for 10-15 seconds. Strain into coffee filter, & pour liquid into handheld sprayer. Hose down bushes to knock off aphids. Then mist spray the plants.

Recently I've been using a solution of vegetable oil & water as a general purpose spray. Mix 1 oz. of vegetable oil with 1 gallon of water and spray on the plants. Upon coming into contact with an insect the oil will coat and smother the insect. Use this method during cooler months as it may burn if sprayed too heavily during the summer.

Lady bugs also help control of aphids.

If the tips of your rose canes wilt, then you probably have cane borers. Look for a hole on the cane where the borer entered and cut back the cane until you find the culprit, and then squish it. Remove infected canes as soon as you notice a problem & cover the cut with vaseline to prevent diseases from entering the wound.

Rose Chafers are usually only a problem in areas with sandy soils. Control methods are similar to Japanese Beetles.Kill the chafer larvae using biological controls such as beneficial nematodes or a product called "milky spore." A new Neem-based product, Neem Seed Oil, is available that repels the chafers. Or, manually knock them off your roses into a jar filled with water and kill them. Or trap them with a specially designed Rose Chafer trap that uses a pheremone to attract them.

For Sawfly larvae, shake the plant and step on the worms as they fall on the ground. Also place wren houses around your rose garden.

To prevent slugs from doing damage, spread coffee grounds( in moderation) around base of bush. Use repellent mulches: Wormwood, prostrate rosemary, basil, rue, acacia bark, and oak leaves are disliked by snails and make good repellent mulches. Wormwood is also effective as a spray. Use barriers with scratchy material, hydrated lime, wood ash, sharp sand, crushed egg shells, or diatamaceous earth.

Hope this helps. :)

Answer 2

I don't have roses but do have these recipes!

For Rose Aphids: 1 lemon or orange peel , coarsely chopped, 1 T baby shampoo, 2 c water - 10-15 seconds in blender - strain pulp w/coffee filter, pour liquid in hand-held mist sprayer & spray about 10 mins after watering - Repeat 4 days later

For Rose Thrips (the 'little black things'): 5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped, 2 c boiling water, 1 t baby shampoo - place garlic in heatproof bowl & add boiling water - let steep overnight- strain w/coffee filter & pour liquid in hand-held sprayer w/baby shampoo - stored at room temp should last more than a week.

Good Luck!!

Answer 3

The best thing youcan use natural is baby powder.. will get rid od aphids...

Answer 4

spray Neem leaves juice 3ml/litre

Answer 5

diamatious earth

Answer 6

ladybugs!!!