Insecticide For Rose Plants

When the blooms in your rose garden start to emerge in late spring, you know summer is on its way. However, you must protect those perennial rosebuds from insects. Rose insecticides are designed to target the bugs attracted to the delicate flowers. Choosing the best spray for roses depends on whether you prefer to keep your garden chemical free or if you can tolerate the toxicity of some spray ingredients. Both methods are effective. You can spray some products directly onto the roses and leaves, while others are systemic, which means you must spread the pesticide at the plant’s base.

When rosebuds start to unfold, many insects are alerted. All leave their specific mark on the garden, and it’s up to you to determine which treatment to choose. Not all treatments control all insects, and once they attack, identifying the insect is the first order of business. An all-encompassing insecticide that covers aphids, Japanese beetles, mildew, borers, rust and black spots is a systemic solution that you must add to the soil beneath the stalk of the plant.

Other flowers also benefit from the systemic solution, including camellias and azaleas, according to Bumper Crop Times. Use a concentrate that you mix with water. If you see insects crawling on the flower bed, sprinkle some of the mixture over the soil. Monitor the flowers for six weeks and then repeat the treatment once more. However, if you keep bees, use another treatment because it’s toxic to them.

Holes in the leaves of your roses can indicate an infestation of Japanese beetles, which is common in a rose garden. Spraying the leaves with a rose and flower insecticide works, and the bugs fall off the leaves immediately. Whiteflies, aphids, and over 100 insects and bugs are affected by the chemicals in the spray. Shake the container thoroughly; then aim the spray at the leaves and stems, making sure to wet the flowers and soak the leaves. Spray from a 10-inch distance.

Most rose and flower sprays are suitable for use with indoor plants as well. Check the flowers for a reinfestation and reapply after four weeks to keep the insects at bay. A word of caution regarding the spray: Children and adults with allergies or sensitive skin can be affected by the chemicals in the spray.

A non-toxic treatment for roses as well as vegetables contains active ingredients, including soybean, corn oils, sunflower, coconut and almond oils. Most get rid of insects as well as fungi. Simply mix the contents with water and pour it over the roses. The Hershey Gardens in Hershey, Pennsylvania, uses organic treatments only for the flowers in its Children’s Garden. According to Horticulture Magazine, the recipe includes:

• 1 tablespoon of vinegar
• 1 cup of water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon of dish soap
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (or any other cooking oil)

Stir this mixture into 1 gallon of water and spray it on your roses’ foliage. Reapply every seven to 10 days or after a rainstorm.

Cool, wet weather brings out insects and mold. Treat the roses with homemade preparations composed of a tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of cooking oil mixed into a gallon of water. A shot of cold water onto the roses early in the morning should take care of powdery mildew, writes Heirloom Roses. A teaspoon of orange oil cleaner dropped into a gallon of water also controls spider mites. Be sure to soak the leaves and leave them dripping.