How to Get Rid of Bugs on a Rose Bush

Getting rid of insect pests on rose bushes is relatively easy.
Begin by identifying which garden pest is the cause. Fortunately the most common pests are easily identified. Once you figure out what pests you are dealing with, you can determine the safest course of action.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Pruning shears
• Container of soapy water
• Garden hose
• Spray gun with adjustable settings
• Tweezers
• Insecticidal soap

Instructions

Treating Your Roses

1. Identify which pests are present. Aphids are the most common pest found on roses. They have small teardrop shaped bodies and long spindly legs. They are usually lime green but can also be brown, red or black. They cluster on new growth and excrete a sticky honeydew like substance that is attractive to ants. Other common soft-bodied pests include mealy bugs, recognized by their white cotton-like appearance, spittle bugs, hidden in foamy nests, rose scale, with their cluster of oval waxy shells, thrips, small, long, thin brown insects that prefer blooms and buds and spider mites, with their telltale webs found at stem joints.

2. Cut off thrip-infested blooms and buds with garden shears and drop them into a container of soapy water. Clean the garden shears between plants to help prevent the spread of these pests.

3. Attach an adjustable spray nozzle to a garden hose and turn the dial to "jet" Stand a foot or two away from the plant spray, directing the stream of water to hit the areas where the pests are congregating. Knock as many of them off as possible.

4. Pick off Japanese beetles and caterpillars by hand and drop them into a container of soapy water. If you are a bit squeamish about handling them where gloves or pick them off with tweezers.

5. Spray your plants with insecticidal soap. It is the safest chemical control on the market today and is certified for organic gardening use. The best time to spray is early morning or late afternoon. Read the label carefully. Wear gloves and change your clothes after spraying your plants. Wash your hands before eating, drinking, or smoking. Although safe insecticidal soap may be hazardous to aquatic invertebrates, and can still have an adverse effect on beneficial insects.

Tips & Warnings

• There are a wide range of biological controls available today to the home gardener. Predator insects such as ladybugs and green lacewings are available for purchase on line. BT (Bacillus thuringensis) can be purchased at most garden centers and home improvement stores for the control of caterpillars. Japanese beetles can be controlled in the larval stage with the application of Bacillus popilliae , or milky spore disease to lawns. This bacteria strictly targets Japanese beetle larva.

References

• Bad Insects
• Rose Gardening Made Easy
• Summer Care of Roses