3 days Ago By Katherine McPhillips
Roses should be thriving in the sunny weather, but if you notice sticky stems or wilting leaves, it's likely a sign of an aphid infestation. Aphids are tiny insects that come alive in spring thanks to the humid weather and feed by sucking the sap out of plants . These pests are especially attracted to roses , and if left alone, they will weaken the plant, stunt its growth and prevent it from producing healthy flowers .
As they feed, aphids create a sticky substance called honeydew that not only attracts ants but also encourages fungal diseases like sooty mould to further damage roses. It is important to be vigilant of aphids as it can they can be tricky to get rid of once they make their way into a garden. However, Genevieve Schmidt, a gardener and founder of North Coast Gardening , has shared that preventing them from harming your roses is easy as long as gardeners take a few basic precautions.
Genevieve said: “Prevention is the best cure, as aphids just love that soft new growth that occurs from over-fertilising, using synthetic fertilisers, or a plant not getting enough light.” Roses are more susceptible to aphid infestations if they produce weak stems, and taking the right steps to ensure your plants grow strong is the easiest way to keep these pests away. Using too much fertiliser on roses will cause their leaves to grow too quickly, which will result in softener foliage that is easier for aphids to nibble on.
Many store-bought fertilisers also tend to release all their nutrients into the soil at once, which can lead to overfertilisation if you are not careful. This is why many gardeners prefer organic fertilisers as they gradually release nutrients, which provides plants with a steady supply as needed. Some of the best natural fertilisers for roses are manure, fish emulsion, bone meal, blood meal or alfalfa meal, but you can also make a quick feed for roses using kitchen ingredients if the soil is lacking in a particular nutrient.
Roses planted in shady spots are more likely to produce softer leaves and struggle to resist aphids, as they need at least six hours of sunlight each day in spring. Plant your roses in a sunny spot and be sure to rake up any fallen petals, as dead foliage on the soil can attract aphids. If you follow these simple gardening practices, your roses will be much less likely to attract aphids.
However, if you do spot these pesky insects feeding on your plants, don't worry, as you can treat them with insecticidal soap. Genevieve said: “Insecticidal soap is fairly effective at killing aphids, while being pretty harmless to beneficial bugs. “It works by sticking to a bug and smothering it, so once it’s dry it doesn’t really hurt anything.
You have to keep up with it to be effective, but it’s a simple cure for a small infestation.” Insecticidal soap contains fatty acids that break down the cells of soft-bodied insects like aphids to suffocate them. Simply apply the solution directly to the affected areas of your rose bush in the late evening.
This ensures it stays effective by preventing it from evaporating too quickly in the sun, which will help roses stay healthy and pest-free throughout the rest of spring..
