I am often asked to advise people on what to spray on their roses. When I reply 'Why would you want to spray anything on your roses?', I am regaled with horror stories about the number of pests and diseases for which roses are renowned. In fact, roses are one of the most hardy and easy care plants you can have!! If you have ever noticed an old derelict house, chances are that there is an old rose bush or two in the neglected garden which is still growing and blooming without any intervention!!

In our gardens today, roses can be attacked by aphids - a situation which is mostly due to the chemicals we use to kill all bugs including predator bugs! If your roses have aphids on them, there are a few tricks to make life easier for yourself, and for the roses. The first is - try squashing them with your fingers. This is very effective and also very satisfying! Also, you can wash them off with a jet of water from the hose. Or you can throw some soapy water over the leaves - this is effective for downy mildew also.

However, the best treatment is to encourage the predator bugs which prey on aphids. These include ladybirds, hoverflies and lacewings. Try planting some bright flowers like marigolds, to bring more predators to your garden. Then just wait - the aphids will disappear within days!

Another good remedy is to keep the plants healthy by giving them a foliar spray with seaweed solution, and feeding the soil which the plants grow in. A healthy plant is far more likely to withstand a bug attack. Don't be tempted to reach for a chemical spray each time you notice a bug on your plants - they may be one of the predator bugs, and by killing them, you are making a lot of work for yourself.

Happy gardening,
Kathy