There’s nothing better than a healthy rose in full bloom to brighten up the garden but aphids can sap your plants health. There are many chemical applications for sale that claim to clear aphids but what harm are they doing to the environment? How to get rid of aphids on roses without chemicals gives you the safer and also the prettier alternatives.
If you’ve come to this page then you probably already have an issue with aphids so read on for the best organic cures for aphid infestations on roses. For the most effective Sprays To Get Rid Of Aphids On Roses click here.
How To Get Rid Of Aphids On Roses without chemicals
There are many plants that have the reputation of repelling aphids and they include:-
Garlic and Roses
The strong aromatic scent from garlic is enough to keep aphids flying over your roses and finding somewhere else to infest. Companion plant garlic underneath your roses for maximum effect and include some chives to prevent blackspot as well. For more on companion planting garlic click here.
Lavender and Roses
Another aromatic plant, lavender will keep aphids away from your roses. Grow lavender in companion with roses for a spectacular display and to keep aphids away.
Parsley and Roses
Companion plant parsley with roses and allow the parsley to flower to attract beneficial predators to feed on aphids.
Poached Egg Plants and Roses
The highly popular poached egg plant attracts hoverflies and hoverfly larvae feed on aphids. Companion plant poached egg plants with roses to get rid of aphids on your roses. For poached egg companion planting click here.
Marigolds and Roses
Growing marigolds in companion with roses will not only repel aphids but also make the rose less attractive to aphids. Marigolds exude a chemical through their roots that is absorbed by the roses to disguise their natural aroma that attracts aphids. For more on marigold companion planting click this link.
Rue and Roses
An effective deterrent for aphids, rue grown in companion with roses will keep these pests away. To find out more on companion planting rue click here.
Rhubarb and Roses
Not so much a companion plant as such, but a spray made from boiled rhubarb leaves is extremely effective at getting rid of aphids and prevent blackspot. Rhubarb leaves contain the poisonous oxalic acid and can be used as a preventative spray and as an aphid killer. For more information on companion planting rhubarb click this link.
Cotton Lavender and Roses
A natural insect repellent cotton lavender flowers attract bees and more importantly for getting rid of aphids, hoverflies. Grow cotton lavender under roses to keep aphids away from your roses and attract helpful pollinators to your garden.
Stinging Nettles and Roses
An unconventional suggestion but an effective deterrent against aphids, nettles are rich in silica and calcium. Make a stinging nettle spray from nettle leaves to deter aphids from your roses and give them a health boost. For more on companion planting nettles click here.
Morning Glory and Roses
Hoverflies can’t resist the flowers from this fast growing annual and that will keep aphid numbers down. Try growing morning glory using the rose stem as supports to get a really useful and colourful display.
Catnip and Roses
One of the least invasive mints, catnip is a good companion plant for deterring aphids. The downside is two out of three cats are attracted to it, however if you own a cat this should be considered a bonus. To find out more about companion planting catnip click here.
Coriander and Roses
The strong scent from coriander is a deterrent to aphids and red spider mites and attractive to bees. So grow coriander as a companion to roses for aphid protection.
Chamomile and Roses
Another strongly scented herb that attracts hoverflies and parasitic wasps and also gives a health boost to any plant grown nearby.
Buckwheat and Roses
grow this low growing cereal plant under roses to attract hoverflies which will consume many aphids. Buckwheat is also used as a covercrop and it is a dynamic accumulator making it a useful plant to companion plant with roses.
Basil and Roses
Another strongly aromatic herb, basil keeps aphids away from roses. An annual plant that will need to be replaced each year, basil keeps many pests away but if allowed to flower attracts bees. More information on companion planting basil can be found here.
Anise and Roses
This herb that tastes of liquorice is a good plant to attract predatory wasps which prey on aphids. It is also said to improve the health and vigour of any plants grown close by.
Yarrow and Roses
The bright yellow flowers of this plant attract predatory wasps and ladybirds both of which eat aphids.
Sweet Alyssum and Roses
Grow alyssum around your roses to attract bees and hoverflies to keep the aphids away. Alyssum will self seed so once grown it will reappear each season.
Rosemary and Roses
This aromatic herb has been scientifically proven to repel aphids. If growing rosemary close to your roses is not possible sprigs of rosemary are just as effective. To find out more about companion planting rosemary click this link.
Plants To Trap Aphids
Some plants are useful to grow as trap crops to lure the aphids away from your roses.
Nasturtiums and Roses
It is widely known that nasturtiums attract aphids so grow them away from your roses to entice the aphids and protect the roses. To find out more about nasturtium companion plants click this link.
Cosmos and Roses
Another summer flower that is attractive to aphids and should therefore be grown as a trap crop.For more on companion planting cosmos click here.
For more information on plants that repel aphids click here.
I touched on this subject above but just to be absolutely clear and to make things easier for you here are my top sprays to get rid of aphids on roses.
Sprays To Get Rid Of Aphids On Roses
How To Make Homemade Anti-Aphid Sprays
Water Spray
Sometimes a powerful jet of just plain old water will be sufficient to get rid of aphids. You will probably need to do this often as aphids are nothing if not persistent and if water doesn’t do the trick try these others.
Stinging Nettle Spray
Carefully collect leaves and stalks from stinging nettles, place in a bucket of water and leave for about 7 days. Strain this liquid into a spray bottle and dilute down to a 1 in 5 solution (1 part nettle solution to 5 parts water) and spray all leaves and stems. Repeat until all aphids are gone, this spray can be used as a preventative as well.
Just respray after heavy watering or rain to protect your roses all season.
Rhubarb Leaf Spray
Rhubarb leaves are poisonous due to the high levels of oxalid acid concentrated in them and this is a good way to use them. Boil the rhubarb leaves for around 30 minutes and then strain the liquid into a spray bottle. Add a squirt of washing up liquid, mark the container as poison.
Rhubarb leaf spray should only be used on flowers and never on plants you intend to eat. That’s all fruit and vegetables including salad plants and don’t use if you have pets that lick plant leaves. This stuff will kill aphids, slugs, snails and many more pests including pets and people so take care.
How To Get Rid Of Aphids On Roses By Hand
If you only have a few aphids on your roses they can be dealt with by hand. Gently pinch the aphid between your thumb and forefinger and squash them. Or squash the aphids against the stem of the rose plant.
This will only work if the infestation is small, once established the aphids can reproduce by cloning and are much more difficult to eradicate.
Aphids On Roses Is A Worldwide Problem
Whatever part of the world you are in, if you grow roses then you will have experienced aphid infestation at some point. According to the Invasive Species Compendium on the CABI website the rose aphid (Macrosiphum rosae) ” has already been accidentally introduced practically worldwide on cultivated roses, and is ubiquitous wherever roses are grown.”
So don’t let this pest get you down just learn how to defeat it and enjoy your garden. To find out more about this pest click here to go to the cabi.org rose aphid page.
