I have a new dawn climbing rose that is about 18 years old - I have noticed over the years that the rose performs well in the first instance and I spray it quite a while before it flowers. However,when it comes out a second time it is covered in black fly. This year has been a disaster - more roses than ever and beautiful at first but now totally black and the new roses won't open they look dead. Please advise if I can save this and what I should do prior to next growth and flower to prevent this black fly. thank you. Linda
I keep the numbers of greenfly down in my garden by encouraging ladybirds, hoverflies and bluetits into our garden. They will all feed on the greenfly aphids.
It sometimes takes a little while to create the balance of wildlife that will keep the greenfly numbers down, so if my roses get aphids on the growing tips, especially early in the season, I brush them off with my fingers or a soft brush.
I've also found that an occasional weak solution of Ecover washing up liquid in water sprayed onto the aphids will get rid of most of them and it doesn't harm the beneficial insects.
I hope that's helpful
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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I have a new dawn climbing rose that is about 18 years old - I have noticed over the years that the rose performs well in the first instance and I spray it quite a while before it flowers. However,when it comes out a second time it is covered in black fly. This year has been a disaster - more roses than ever and beautiful at first but now totally black and the new roses won't open they look dead. Please advise if I can save this and what I should do prior to next growth and flower to prevent this black fly. thank you. Linda
How do I prevent green fly on my roses
Hi Terence
I keep the numbers of greenfly down in my garden by encouraging ladybirds, hoverflies and bluetits into our garden. They will all feed on the greenfly aphids.
It sometimes takes a little while to create the balance of wildlife that will keep the greenfly numbers down, so if my roses get aphids on the growing tips, especially early in the season, I brush them off with my fingers or a soft brush.
I've also found that an occasional weak solution of Ecover washing up liquid in water sprayed onto the aphids will get rid of most of them and it doesn't harm the beneficial insects.
I hope that's helpful
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.