Rose troubleshooting: FAQs

Chewed flowers Half eaten leaves Leaves are rolling up Dying leaves Rose suckers Getting rid of aphids Rose galls White foam on canes White stems and leaves Rose bush has dropped its leaves Canes die back Mossy pincushion on leaves Twisted and deformed leaves Bright red leaves and thorny canes Only half a flower on roses Flecks on rose blooms Black spots on leaves

My rose leaves and flowers are chewed. What does this?
Chewed looking leaves and flowers are a sign of the different beetles. You can pick them off by hand into a can of water or if the infestation is bad then an insecticide spray can be used.

What is causing my leaves to be half eaten?
Rose slugs (or cane borers) can devour leaves at a very fast rate so immediate attention to the problem is needed. A spray with an insecticide will stop the infestation.

Something is causing my rose leaves to roll up.
In the late spring budworms or caterpillars wrap themselves up in a leaf blanket and then eat their way out. Sprays don't affect them as the leaf protect the worms so hand picking off the leaves is the best method to get rid of them.

My rose leaves are dying and have webs underneath.
Spider mites are the smallest of the rose pest and sometimes can't be seen with the naked eye until you notice their webs. This pest arrives in the hot weather and stays on the underside of the leaf sucking it dry. Spray using an insecticide and make sure you get it mainly under the leaves.

What is a rose sucker? How do you recognize one?
Suckers are shoots that grow from the rootstock rather than from the named variety which has been grafted onto it. If nothing is done then the suckers will take over the plant completely and you will have a bush that has reverted. You can tell if it is a sucker if you see that it is coming from below the bud union and by the different leaf form and colour. Don't go by the number of leaflets as a guide. Try to pull the sucker off rather than cutting it as cutting stimulates growth again. Pulling if off causes the wound to make a callous and heal over.

How do I get rid of aphids?
Aphids are the most common of rose pests and are usually green, reddish or brown in colour. They feed on the sap of the tender new growth at the tips of the canes causing growth and flowers to be stunted. A hard spray of water from the hose will knock them off and often they will not be able to return to the plant. You can also remove them with your fingers by stroking the tips with your thumb and forefinger. Ladybugs love to dine on aphids and can devour hundreds in a short time. If the infestation is really bad then the plant can be weakened and an insecticide spray will be needed. Because they are soft-bodied, insecticidal soap is usually sufficient.