Hello all,

i am a nursery technician in Cincinnati, OH and am dealing on a daily basis with dozens of cases of rose slug pillaging the once only lightly defoliated Knock-Out roses. So far, word from the state extension offices is pushing yearly application of Imidalcloprid systemic drenches or Sevin spray techniques. However it concerns me to see so many chemicals being used for a plant that has been so heavily planted (don't even get me started on the overplanting of the Knockouts!) Are there any great natural methods for control of the rose slugs, not so much the regular, but the bristly or hairy rose slugs, which I believe have up to six generations per summer? I really want to be able to offer my customers a more natural alternative.

Thanks.

Bennett