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roses

hello, Im new to this .A keen gardener who has suddenly discovered all my rose bushes covered in green flies and some stems seem to have a black scale or tiny black eggs in clusters along the rose stems.these drop off when i rub them down.what are they and how can i rid the green fly infestation as quick and cheaply as possible.will washing up water do?

Posts

  • RainbowfishRainbowfish Posts: 276

    Rose clear is effective but not great for wildlife. This year I am trying to not spray for the sake of the wildlife in my garden.  I am hoping the lacewings in my garden will start laying eggs on them soon so that the larvae will control them but in the meantime we have a dunnock that is eating ours. Now it just needs to find the ones in the greenhouse.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    Totally agree Rainbowfish image

    I follow the same ethos as Monty Don describes here

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-1186297/Plagued-aphids-Why-learn-love-little-pests-says-Monty-Don.html


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    I think I've not used insecticides for about 20 years, and much more than that for fungicides.

    Devon.
  • RainbowfishRainbowfish Posts: 276

    Interesting article Dove image

    I kinda wish there were more aphids on my roses as the Dunnock is cute to watch scrambling through the standard bushes.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,087

    No sprays here either.  I have bird feeders hanging all over the garden and I find that the adult sparrows and tits come and hoover up the aphids to feed their chicks and the ladybirds and larvae deal with the rest.  If I find some they've missed I squish with my fingers and give them a blast from the hose pipe with it's spray nozzle.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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