my rose bushes are getting eaten to death. I'm not sure if its bugs or rabbits. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Put moth balls around the base of the bushes. This deters pesky critters!

Answer 2

OK Linda. Here's the scoop.....short and simple. About this time of the year Japanese Beetles show up and will usually go for your roses first before moving on to less tasty plants. You can tell if it is them by the way they strip the leaves down to nothing. Plus, look at your blooms....there will usually be several bunched together. The best treatment I have found is a pesticide you can get in a spray bottle already mixed called "Seven". You can find it at Walmart or any garden center. Just spray it right on them and they fall off and die. Repeat after watering or rain. Now.....if your roses appear to have been "cut off, or certain leaves/stems look like they have been partially chewed or missing near ground level", your probable culprit is "rabbits". If just the blooms and top foliage are being eaten, Chances are it is deer. I have a remedy that will not cost a lot but will discourage rabbits and deer alike. It is a product you can find in the birdseed dept. at your local Walmart called "Squirrel Away". It is made from super hot chili peppers and is in powder form. Simply spred it on your bushes. Again, repeat after rain or watering. One word of caution though......DO NOT touch any sensitive part of your body until you wash your hands thouroughly as it burns like crazy. I found this out the hard way. I hope I have been of some help to you. Good luck.

Answer 3

This time of year it could be japanese beetles. They can devour a rose bush in a very short time. You can buy a pesticide at Wal-Mart, etc spec. for roses. There are a variety of other bugs so the pesticide will work on all kinds.
If it is a rabbit or deer, mothballs place around, but not close to, the bushes will repel vermin. For an organic pesticide, you can plant onions, garlic or marigolds around the roses.

Answer 4

All I can offer is some "could be" explanations.
Do you have semi-circular cuts in the leaves. If so then they are leaf cutter bees which in my experience can strip a bush clean. However, there is good news, your rose will live and come back. Depending on where you live it could be Deer. Deer love roses and can be a problems to stop. Honestly, though, there just isn't enough information to help you. It could be almost anything.

Answer 5

well, it is difficult to answer the question when we don't know what to treat for...bugs or varmints. :)

i would try an organic pesticide first.

mix onions, peppers,...anything 'stinky' that you might have in the kitchen cabinets (bay leaves, garlic, etc) in a pot and cover with water. steep for a few mins then allow to cool. pour into a spray bottle, finish filling bottle with water, add a few drops of dish detergent, and spray the leaves. be certain to treat the underside..as that is where the bugs live.
you will ave to retreat after rains or overhead watering.

hope this helps.

oh...and if it's varmints....they will most likely not like the taste of the spray and will leave your roses alone. :)

Answer 6

If it's bugs, spray down the bushes with a mix of soap (liquid dish soap works best) and water. This makes the bushes slippery and bugs cannot climb them or stay on them. Retreat every couple of weeks or after heavy rain/watering.

Answer 7

lay lose dirt around your rose beds and check daily for tracks if its rabbets and you don't want to cause them harm reenact Halloween the items sold with motion detectors are grate for scaring them away if bugs call home depot they give some of the best advice on bugs like how to id them and treatment