How to Control Aphids on Rose Bushes the Organic Way
Aphids may be the home rose gardener's single most annoying and persistent headache. Unlike rust, black spot and powdery mildew, aphids don't care what the weather's like. If it's not freezing outside, they're probably busy sucking the life out of your rose bushes right now. The good news is that aphids are easier to control than almost any other rose problem or pest. The best news may be that you already have everything you need to control aphids on rose bushes the organic way. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Combine 1 teaspoon liquid hand dishwashing soap with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in 1 cup of warm water. Pour into a plastic spray bottle.
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Spray the homemade horticultural oil onto your rose bushes beginning early in the spring while they're still dormant --- before buds begin to swell. This dormant oil application will kill aphids that have overwintered on your roses. Coat all plant surfaces evenly, especially the undersides of the leaves. Repeat once weekly throughout the growing season.
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Knock aphids off of your rose bushes with a hard blast from the garden hose. Hosing these pests to the ground is an extremely effective control measure. Aphids can't climb very well, so they're likely to succumb to the elements or be eaten by predators before they can get back up onto that rose bush. Repeat every three to five days.
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Stop hosing aphids from rose bushes when weather turns warm and rainy if you've experienced severe black spot infestations in the past. When wet weather temperatures range between 50 and 80 degrees F, black spot fungus tends to rage out of control. Squirting your plants with the hose may spread the fungus more rapidly. In some areas, even rainwater aggravates the condition.
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Make organic insecticidal soap by adding 3 tablespoons of liquid hand dishwashing soap to 1 gallon of warm water. Spray directly onto aphids for a fast, affective kill. Douse the plant to the point of run-off, and pay particular attention to the undersides of the leaves. This is an excellent alternative to hosing when black spot may be problematic, or at any other time that you need to kill aphids. Do this early in the morning to give the rose bush plenty of time to dry well. Repeat as needed.
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Deadhead your rose plants conscientiously. Removing spent blooms as soon as they fade helps to get rid of aphid colonies.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose rose varieties that are resistant to aphid infestations.
Plant rose plants with good air circulation in mind. Give them plenty of space in between each other and your garden area structures.
References
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Comments
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Hosing aphids off the rose bushes does NOT work. They just crawl back up. I tried this without success. Perhaps spraying the aphids that wash to the ground with the advised mixture would make the difference. End results was an insecticide that killed them. I read Merrigolds would repel them so that is what I am trying now. Good Luck with aphid control.
