Aphids on roses can be a very heartbreaking sight to any rose gardener.
These sap-sucking pests seem to come from nowhere and destroy the livelihood of your plants.
Luckily, with the right tools, aphids can be swiftly controlled.
Read on for this ultimate guide to eliminating aphids on roses.
How To Identify Aphids On Roses
Aphids, otherwise known as greenflies, are small pests that cause a nuisance to rose growers.
Aphids have an undistinguished head, thorax, and abdomen. Their bodies are round or pear shape.
Aphids tend to be green in color, although some may have a pink hue.
They may or may not be winged; in which case they have the ability to fly from plant to plant.
These insects are very small individually (about 1/8th of an inch).
However, they are often found living together in clusters.
Oftentimes, they congregate onto new growth, buds and the underside of juvenile leaves are most susceptible to an aphid infestation.
Where Do Aphids On Roses Come From?
An aphid infestation can occur so suddenly it makes one wonder where aphids come from in the first place.
Aphids are flying insects that tend to travel from one plant to another. It only takes a few aphids to turn into a full-blown infestation.
In the autumn, aphids will mate with one another and deposit a clutch of eggs that will overwinter.
In the spring, these eggs will then hatch and develop into an aphid infestation.
How To Distinguish Aphids From Other Rose Pests
While aphids on roses are certainly the most common rose pests that you might encounter, they are definitely not the only threat to your plants.
Let’s take a look at some other rose pests and compare them to aphids:
Thrips
While aphids are round-bodied insects, thrips on roses are slender pests whose hue ranges from yellow to black.
Thrips mostly attack rose blossoms and their buds, as opposed to aphids, which primarily go after new growth and leaves.
A thrip infestation causes the petals of the rose to turn brown and deformed.
Spider Mites
Spider mites are arachnid pests that latch onto leaves, just as aphids do.
In terms of appearances, they differ greatly from aphids.
Spider mites are even smaller than aphids, often 1/50th of an inch long.
They have round black bodies.
These insects are so small, it’s more likely to find the damage they cause rather than spider mites themselves.
Spider mites suck the nutrients from leaves, causing a yellow stippling pattern on the leaves.
This draining of nutrients causes leaves to fall prematurely.
Damage Caused By Aphids On Roses
In this section, we will explore the effects of aphids on rose plants, including the damage they can cause to leaves and flowers.
Additionally, we will also discuss the potential damage that aphids can cause to other plants in the vicinity of roses, and how to prevent the spread of these destructive pests.
Effects Of Aphids On Rose Plants
Aphids are sap-sucking insects that cause damage to the rose plant by sucking the nutrients from the plant.
The aphids cannot digest all the sugars in the plant sap, therefore they secrete a sticky fluid (known as “honeydew”).
This liquid drops onto other parts of the plant and develops a moldy fungus.
This fungus blocks the leaves from receiving light.
As a result, leaves begin to wilt and drop prematurely.
The spread of an aphid infestation can also have the same devastating results on rose buds.
This causes a diminishment of flower quality and quantity.
Affected rose buds often become deformed and fall off before they have the chance to blossom.
Potential Damage To Other Plants In The Vicinity
If left untreated, an aphid infestation can cause damage to other plants in the area.
As we’ve discussed previously, aphids are capable of flight and do not discriminate as to which plants they’ll take up residence next.
How To Get Rid Of Aphids On Roses
There are various methods for controlling aphids on roses, including cultural control methods, chemical control methods, and biological control methods.
By implementing these strategies, rose gardeners can effectively manage aphid infestations and keep their plants healthy and thriving.
1. Cultural Control Methods
Pruning affected areas
In small cases of aphids on roses, the afflicted area can swiftly be pruned and disposed of.
Wrap the infested branches in a plastic garbage bag to prevent the further spread of aphids.
Encouraging natural predators
Certain species of insects or birds are predators of the aphid and will feast on them if you encourage them to come.
You can attract these predators by planting early-blooming flowers that produce a lot of nectar to draw them in.
However, this is more of a long-term preventative and may not be helpful in an emergency infestation.
2. Chemical Control Methods
Insecticidal spray
Insecticidal sprays can be used in order to quell large infestations of aphids on roses.
However, do be warned that some insecticides can be very corrosive to the rose plant.
You may end up doing more harm than good.
It is recommended to try a patch test on a small section of your roses before spraying a large area.
Neem oil
Neem oil is a natural horticultural oil extracted from the neem tree.
It is a natural pesticide and many gardeners have had great luck with neem oil.
Neem oil is not corrosive and will be safe for your rose plants.
You will have to spray your rose plant in several rounds before your aphids are totally eradicated.
3. Biological Control Methods
Introducing insects that are natural predators of aphids can be helpful in controlling aphids on roses.
Examples of such insects include ladybugs, lacewings, and wasps.
Biological control can come at a disadvantage, however.
While these insects consume high quantities of aphids, they don’t appear in significant enough numbers until the aphid population has drastically increased.
Preventative Measures For Aphids On Roses
How To Reduce The Likelihood Of Infestation
- Regular Monitoring
Aphids on roses and their eggs are small and can often go unnoticed by gardeners.
However, they are not microscopic and can be clearly identified with a watchful eye.
Keep an eye out for signs of aphids throughout the season.
The springtime is when a new clutch of aphids will hatch and cluster around new growth. Make sure to look underneath the leaves of your rose plants for aphids.
- Proper Cultural Care
Planting early-blooming flowers in the vicinity of your roses is a good long-term preventative against aphids infecting your roses.
These flowers attract a number of insects that feast on aphids, including the famous ladybug.
Aphids also have a habit of living in weeds.
Weeds are another type of plant for them to live in until it’s time to travel to bigger and better plants.
Stay up to date with your weeding in order to deter aphids from infesting your roses.
You might also benefit from layering mulch around the base of your roses in order to stifle the growth of weeds.
- Avoid Overusing Chemical Pesticides
As we’ve previously discussed, chemical solutions can sometimes be severely corrosive and cause more harm than good when it comes to handling aphids on roses.
The repeated use of chemical pesticides can cause severe damage to your rose plants in the long run.
Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Rose To Deter Aphids
Aphids are more likely to attack a plant that is weak and unhealthy as opposed to a strong plant.
You can maintain a healthy rose plant by doing the following:
1. Planting your roses in full sunlight
Roses enjoy sunlight, at least 6 hours per day is sufficient for the health of your plants.
2. Give your roses the proper amount of water
Roses, like any other plant, require water to survive.
However, too much water can be counterproductive to the development of your roses.
The soil should be moist, but not soaked with water.
Allow the first few inches of soil to dry before rehydrating your roses.
3. Maintain a regular fertilizer schedule
Fertilizer is essential for replenishing nutrients in your roses.
This will encourage strong growth and fortify your rose plants against outside forces such as aphids.
Using a fertilizer specially formulated for roses, you should apply this twice during the growing season.
One during the beginning of the season to kickstart the new spring growth, and a second time during the summer before the blooms begin to develop.
DIY Solutions – Aphids On Roses Home Remedies
Let’s explore natural and DIY remedies that can be used to control aphids on roses in a home garden.
Water and Soap:
Soap is helpful in stopping aphids because it coats the insects in a film of soap, causing them to suffocate.
In a spray bottle, combine:
1 quart of water
1 teaspoon of high-quality dish soap
Spray the affected areas of your plant and wipe off the aphids. This will require several repeat applications to completely rid your roses of aphids.
Water, Garlic, and Peppermint Oil:
The pungent aroma of garlic and peppermint is a sure way to expel aphids from hanging out around your rose plants.
In a blender combine:
One cup of water
One bulb of garlic cloves, peeled
A few drops of peppermint oil.
Blend the mixture until smooth and strain the mix through a fine-mesh strainer to extract the infused liquid.
Pour the mix into a spray bottle and spray your aphids as necessary.
Conclusion
When left to their own devices, aphids can wreak havoc on not just your roses, but the rest of your plants as well.
These nasty pests feed off the nutrients of your plants, causing leaves to drop, fungus to develop, and roses to become deformed.
With a variety of control methods ranging from simple cultural changes to chemical solutions, biological counterattacks, to homemade remedies, aphids won’t stand a chance in your garden!
