Garden roses attract aphids because the plant offers the pest a source of food in the form of sugary sap. Aphids, like many insects, feed on the phloem juice of plants, which is rich in sugar. Roses, especially in the spring and summer, provide this readily available source of nourishment.
Aphids on roses cause damage by sucking from the leaves, buds and stems, which weakens the flower and can lead to deformed growth, stunded development or even death of the the plant. They also secrete honeydew, a sticky substance that can attract more pests such as ants, making the plant look unsightly.
June is prime time for aphids in the garden as they reproduce rapidly while the weather is warm.
According to the experts at Barnsdale Gardens, it’s super important to protect roses before an aphid infestation occurs.
One simple way to do so is to make a simple homemade spray out of household ingredients.
The experts said: “Roses may be red, but aphids are uninvited. These tiny sap-suckers adore those juicy new shoots, so fight back with their favourite green trick.
“Use a squirt of eco-friendly washing-up liquid in water, about a teaspoon to three litres.
“Spray early, spray often, and you’ll stop those aphids before they lay eggs and through a garden party.”
Make sure to spray the mixture around the roses every seven to 10 days in order to keep the aphids away.
It’s also an effective spray if you notice aphids already on the plant, as it disrupts their exoskeleton and effectively breaks them down.
Make sure to focus on all areas of the plant, but these tiny pests tend to find a home on the underside of leaves, so don’t forget them there too.
It’s not just roses that should be carefully watched, either; crops such as potatoes should be watched closely.
Aphids can damage potato plants directly through feeding damage and indirectly by transmission of several virus diseases.
This makes it super important to protect them and check them daily for any signs of pests.
