How to Remove Aphids From Roses
Aphids are soft-bodied pests that are about 1/8 inch long and appear during the spring and summer months to feed on your roses. These bugs come in various colors, often brown and green. They use their mouth parts to pierce the rose buds and shoots to suck the nutrients out. Besides causing stunted growth and discolored and curled foliage, aphids secrete honeydew, which attracts ants. Keep your roses healthy by getting rid of the pests. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Gloves
- Water
- Sharp scissors
- Neem oil or insecticidal soap
- Sticky traps
- Ladybugs or lacewings
Instructions
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Inspect your roses on a bi-weekly basis for aphids by checking the undersides of leaves and looking at the stems. If you find the bugs, put on a pair of gloves and hand-pick them off of the foliage, or blast them off with a spray of water from your garden hose.
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Cut away any infested foliage that you find and dispose of it in a secure area. This practice keeps the aphids from spreading to other parts of your roses and to any other nearby plants.
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Apply neem oil or an insecticidal soap to all areas of your roses by following the directions on the container. The oil and soap kill aphids on contact, but must be applied on a regular basis to be effective.
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Position sticky traps near the base of your roses to catch ants. Ants feed off of the honeydew that aphids secrete and, as a result, protect the aphid population against natural enemies.
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Introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings, to your garden to help naturally control the aphid population. These helpful insects feed on intrusive bugs, but do not harm your roses.
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