Veseys

Remember that insects prefer to attack weak and susceptible plants, so anything you can do to promote the health of your roses will help in the battle against insects. Bear in mind as well that your garden is an ecosystem of its own, and do not be concerned about insects unless they are actually doing real damage. You may want to place sticky traps discreetly near your roses just to monitor who is in your garden.

Aphids

The yellowing, curling or puckering of leaves usually recognizes aphid damage. Damage will occur first on new growth, so you will know where to look for them. Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects (usually green) that suck plant juices from flowerheads and new leaves. You do not have to eliminate every single aphid, just control their numbers. Safer’s insecticidal soap works well and is safe and easy to use. Ladybugs and lacewings feed on aphids so encourage their presence to help control the aphid population. Aphids have a great aversion to chives, so you may want to try interplanting attractive chive plants in your rose bed.

Thrips

Thrips are certainly an annoyance to rose growers as they affect the bloom itself. You can diagnose thrip damage by flowers that turn brown and only partially open. Tiny, slender, dark brown insects with feathery wings can be seen emerging from inside the flowers. Unfortunately, Safer’s soap will not work for these pests, but there are other insecticides on the market that are listed to kill thrips, but it is difficult to reach the thrips deep inside a closed blossom. Often, it is just as effective to cut off and destroy the affected flowers. Plants under water stress are particularly susceptible to thrips, so remember to water in extremely dry weather.