Pests and Diseases

The best way of keeping all pests and diseases away from the rose is good cultivation, but even a perfectly healthy rose tree is liable to be attacked by disease, so that a few recipes for their cure will probably be welcome.

Many gardeners are deterred from spraying and using the various other remedies, because they fear to spoil the flowers then out.  This is a great mistake.  It is far better to sacrifice a few blooms than to ruin the whole rose tree.

Aphids or Greenfly

The most common pests of the rose is aphids or greenfly, and when once this has a thorough hold of a tree, it is certain to spoil all its blooms.   Directly one or two are seen, the spray should be brought out, and a strong sousing of water given.  Some people recommend soapy water, but they can generally be got rid of with ordinary clean water. 

In very bad cases of greenfly quassia chips are a good remedy.  Boil two or three ounces of the chips in about a gallon of water, strain off, and dissolve in the liquid about the same quantity of soft soap.  When it is cold apply it with a spray.  In an hour or two it is advisable to wash the mixture off with clean water.

The Rose Maggot

The rose maggot or rose grub is a most destructive little animal. As soon as it is seen that a leaf or two is curled tight up, the rose maggot must be looked for.  In a very few hours a grub with its army of relations will spoil a whole bed, not only injuring the leaves but boring the neatest little holes in the buds and blossoms themselves.

On warm days, aphids, caterpillars, and many other insects increase at a truly marvelous speed, so that if neglected the pests soon multiply a thousandfold.

Red Spider

Red spider, another dangerous enemy, generally appears in a drought.  The best remedy therefore is a liberal spraying with water, care being taken to see that the under as well as the upper sides of the leaves are reached.  I have known people to spray in the case of red spider without any apparent effect, because the insects, which are minute creatures, had hidden themselves on the under side and kept quite dry.  Keep the roots well watered also.

Mildew

Changeable weather is the most frequent cause of mildew.  The leaves of rose trees affected by it seem to have been lightly powdered, and the disease soon spreads.   Some rose varieties are far more liable to it than others, and great attention must be paid to these.  Mildew is more often found in sheltered gardens where the close atmosphere induces it to form.

Black Spot

This can be identified by the black spots on the foliage and is caused by incorrect watering.  Remove the affected foliage.  Soak the roses at the roots and not overhead watering.