I usually just squish them off with my fingers or you can spray them off with a hose or spray bottle.

Unless there are tons of them, they really don't do any damage.

Michelle, it's not just because of the sort of roses, it's just a gathering of conditions.
But a hose wash or fingers will easily take care of aphids. And as the weather warms up, they disappear.

Jeri

Sounds Good, thanks for the help.

Yes, they are a problem this time of year aren't they! Very annoying, but other than some distorted leaves, they haven't done too much damage. I've been hosing them off with water, which works pretty well. I did notice that there are some ants farming the aphids with a couple of my roses. Some of the ants are determined, and will carry them back up after they have been hosed off. I finally had to use some insecticidal soap on one of my Don Juans last night.

Today I've seen a lot of lady bugs and the aphid population is way down. If we're patient, nature usually takes care of things for us.

Sandy

I was wondering if the ladybugs would munch on them....I've been seeing lots of ladybugs so maybe they'll get'em!
thanks,
Michelle

I just squished a bunch of them that were on the tender leaves & flower buds of my roses, yesterday. It kills all of them right away---even though yucky.

I just left them to the lady bugs and spiders and such. I may have lost a small bud or two, but no discernible damage was done. I used to perform the spray and/or squish method of de-aphiding, but it seems the roses do just fine without my interference.

This might very well be just coincidence, but I have aphids on most of my roses too right now. With one noticeable exception ... 'Heritage' that has various herbs planted near its feet (chives, rosemary, lavender, geranium, & alyssum).

Randy

That is very interesting Randy, and brings up something I have been wanting to ask. Have you ever heard of planting garlic around roses to prevent blackspot? OR is that just an old-wives tale? I also read it makes the roses produce more perfume. Don't know if its true, but it is interesting
thanks
Michelle

Michelle, on a recent thread on the rose forum someone mentioned using flour as a dusting for aphids. I tried it last night; this morning the aphids seem to be gone from that rose tip. It rained here last night so the flour is gone too.

So maybe the flour helped.

Oh, to answer the question about the ladybugs. Yes, they're most likely there because of the aphids. Both adult and immature ladybugs eat aphids.

I've been squishing a lot lately too, they seem to like Honey Perfume. I've actually accidently broken a couple of buds off, so I don't know who's doing more damage, me or the aphids :)

BTW, I haven't seen ANY ladybugs yet this year.

Eric

I've tried the flour for aphid infestations, and I think it helps.

Thanks Duchesse, I'll try the flour. Isn't the rain wonderful?? I'd almost forgotten what rain felt like during the drought :)

I tried the flour again this morning on some I found on a climber, just in case it was just the rain that simply washed all the aphids off. It does seem to work.

Michelle,

I was thinking of your question while touring my garden yesterday.

I saw aphids on some tender buds but no ladybugs yet. BUT, just like Randy, I noticed that the beds with lavender under the roses have almost no aphids, while the other roses seem to have lots more. So for me, the lavender works! I also go around squishing aphids but with a paper towel (less yacky!). I have read about planting garlic near roses but the lavender is prettier and stays evergreen in my climate.

If you can, try Hidcote Lavender, its a dwarf variety, velvety dark purple flowers and sweetly fragrant. All our plants came from one packet of seed, then from taking cuttings (which are pretty easy). Here are two pics for you!

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Good luck!

MayBee

My gardens aren't that far from northern Alabama.
I have never had a long lasting aphid problem because I have ladybugs. And I have a lawn that is a mixture of grasses and weeds (aka companion plants for roses.) The early spring henbit is a superb ladybug habitat and provides enough lady bugs to patrol my 500 roses.
If you have a grass only lawn, you might want to provide alternative ladybug habitat so the lady bugs will be there, hungry, when the aphids re-emerge.
And those white, spidery things: they are the exoskeletons of the aphids left behind as the aphids outgrow them.