creepy crawlers on my roses!

Originally Posted by Sylorna

Hi!
I finally got my rose garden planted for natasha, about 2 weeks ago (and am already seeing buds). My more urgent question revolves around some bugs that are eating out my leaves. If you flip the leaf over they're little bitty green worms with black heads. We bought some insicdicide, but I have to wait till tomorrow morning/tonight before I can apply it because it's a spray. Anything I should do specially? They've started on one of the plants and are slowly moving down the row.

I have them also. I believe they are rose slugs. Pick them off and smash if you can. The rose person in this area recommends I belive its an insecticide by Ortho which makes it in a spray can. I am currently out of it until later tonite, but it works great. Make sure the insecticide specially lists that it will treat this pest. There are systemics that will treat the plant for a longer period of time. Visit a good garden center for assistance.

Also, one of the other plants has bright green leaves on the majority of the plant, but the original leaves which are close to the plant have turned yellow and fallen off. Do you think this could be fungus or maybe just old leaves and not enjoying the transplant?

Did this leaves have black spots on them??? If yes that is a fungus disease called Black Spot. It usually developes when the roses have had their foliage watered and high humidity. Roses should always be watered at the base to prevent this from developing but if the weather has been humid and there has been rain its going to develop. Look for a fungicide that will treat black spot. But if the leaves are dropping pick them up and throw away so the fungus spores won't splash back on the rose plant. They should be mulched too.

If no black spots and these are the lower leaves have you been watering??

We have chives and marigolds in the garden with the roses, is there anything else we should add for bug control, or am I doomed using insecticide?

Doomed

One of my friends aunts swears by soapy water, do you think that might help?

Long story but no it won't I've been growing roses for over 15 yrs. Remember black spot occurs if foliage gets watered.

I don't know if these are hybrid tea roses-those are VERY FUSSY!!! Look at shrub roses instead. Or PM if further questions. I would be happy to answer them for you.

Sorry for so many questions, we're new at this rose thing and I really want this to work.
Thanks for your help!
Jess

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