Jim,

Your encouragement really hit the spot. Thanks! I think I can face the little beasties more determined to get control of the situation because of your uplifting post. You have a good night also, plus all the days ahead.

Moses

Just try your best that's all we can do in situations like this Moses.....

Since I have never seen any problems with others roses in town I have to assume my rose midge problem at my old house came from a online rose vendor OR from the mulch and compost I was using from our towns outside compost facility... I only use bagged mulch now...

Moses: Did you ever get your money back from Bonide?

No, Rifis, I did not even think to do a refund request come to think of it. Looking back, although I believe I followed the instructions as best I can remember, there may have been an error of some sort on my part it being the first time I did a soil drench. You know how manufacturers find some way to wiggle out of a situation in which they have a customer coming forth with a product issue, so the aggravation I would probablpr

No, Rifis, I did not even think to do a refund request come to think of it. Looking back, although I believe I followed the instructions as best I can remember, there may have been an error of some sort on my part it being the first time I did a soil drench. You know how manufacturers find some way to wiggle out of a situation in which they have a customer coming forth with a product issue, so the aggravation I would probablpry endured would have made a refund request too much of a hassle. At that time I was dealing with serious medical problems and did not need more stress causing Interactions.

sMoses

I had huge infestation of Rose Midge in my garden in 2020 and part of 2021. I was loosing all blooms and new basal canes after spring flush on Summer Romance (One of the favorites of RM), Jude, Lady Of shallot, Oklahoma, Double Delight, Golden celebration, Fragrant Cloud , Tropicana, Charlotte. After researching for natural treatments, tried planting salvia, cat mint, flowering tobacco. Also added bug zapper in the back yard (Solar one from COSTCO and also power connected one for whole backyard) but that didn't help much. So finally tried dinotefuran soil drench last year and that broke the cycle and this year there are no rose midges in my garden.

Instead of safari 20 SG, I purchased Alpine WSG on amazon that has double concentration. One 10gm packet in 3 gallons of water for soil drench around the base of rose plant. It gets absorbed by rose in single day which is far better than imidacloprid that takes 2-3 weeks to get absorbed. It took 1-2 applications per rose last year to break the life cycle of RMs. Well worth the effort to finally see roses blooming again and not loosing the basal canes to RMs.

Tututara,

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, much appreciated...more than I can express!

Questions:

1. How much of the solution does each rose bush get?

2. Is a weather watch necessary, as in do not apply if rain is expected within 24 hrs.?2. Is a weather watch necessary, as in do not apply if rain is expected within 24 hrs.?

3. How frequently does it need to be applied?

Also, what do you know about the possible effectiveness of applying either:

1. Ortho Bug Clear Lawn Insect Killer - Bifenthrin (supposed to be unscented)

2. Spectricide Triazicide - Gamma-Cyhalthrin 0.05%

These may be effective in killing emerging adults or pupae. What do you think?

MoMoses

Per rose I mixed 10gm packet in 3 gallon water and soil drench preferably after rain or you can water the rose thoroughly and then do the soil drench. I did 2 treatments , one in early April and other in mid July. For treatment in July I did half strength 5gms in 3 gallons. Last year I say 70% improvement and this year it is 95% RM free. I spotted RM on 2 new roses but immediately treated them with Alpine WSG. I will be watching the progress this year and key is to be on top of it and not let them get hold in the garden.

Tututara,

I have 45 rose bushes! Not all the same size, but the cost...ouch!

Moses

Are all of them affected by RM ? In my garden I have 40 plus roses but somehow RMs only affected 16 of them. The first one was Summer Romance. I had to summer prune it hard to get rid of all new growth and then soil drench.

Yes, it is expensive. Alpine WSG also comes with 200 gm and 500 gm sizes for half the cost of individual packets.