5 Natural Methods to Keep Roses Bug Free

Here at Precision Siding and Construction we wanted to take a moment to share some environmentally friendly tips for keeping pests away from that summer rose garden. Certain pesticides can be harmful to humans and pets, but these tips listed below are safe and easy. Don’t let the bugs take over your garden. Try out one of these tips and take back your roses this summer.

Soap

Spider mites and aphids can wreak havoc on that summer rose garden. Leaving all the hard work you have done destroyed. But average dish soap can be used to combat these bugs and is safe to use around pets and humans. Combine two tablespoons of dish soap per gallon of water and mix together. Pour the mixture into a sprayer and spray the affected plants early in the morning. Make sure to apply the mixture to the areas of the plat that have been most effected by bugs and keep in mind that the soap mixture must come into direct contact with the bugs to keep them under control. Make sure to use only a mild liquid soap that does not have degreaser in it and that is not intended for the dishwasher. Apply the soap mixture every four to seven days.

Beer trap

Slugs can be a big problem for your rose bushes and can defoliate a plant rapidly. Slugs can be hard to discover because they blend in so well with rose leaves, but a can of beer can be a winning solution to that slug problem. The yeast in beer attracts slugs and can be used to rid them from your garden. Using a small container or bowl, fill the container about three fourths of the way full of beer and set out in your garden to attract slugs. Slugs will climb up to the yeast and fall in and drown in the beer. This method is a cheap and easy way to rid your garden of these irritating critters.

Hot Pepper Spray

Many pesticides on the market today kill bugs but can also be harmful to humans and pets. But hot peppers are great for deterring those bugs and pests from your roses, while keeping your family and pets safe. Make sure to wear gloves and eye protection when making this spray and applying it. First, finely chop up two cups of habanero peppers and put them in a food processor with a whole head of garlic and one tablespoon of cayenne pepper. Add enough water to keep the food processor running smoothly. When your done pureeing the pepper mixture, put them in a five-gallon bucket and add four gallons of water to the mixture. Cover the top of the bucket and let the mixture sit for 24 to 48 hours. Strain out the peppers and add three tablespoons of dish soap (not anti-bacterial soap) to the mixture and then you are ready to fill spray bottles. Spray rose bushes evenly every few days. Twice a week is perfect. Pepper spray can also harm or kill good bugs such as honey bees, so be sure to spray after they have returned to the hive later in the evening. Don’t forget to wear eye protection and gloves when applying this mixture.

Garlic

Garlic is a great repellent for those rose bush pests. Organic gardeners look to nature to solve their bug problems and one of their main ally’s is garlic. Process one head of garlic in a blender until the consistency is a smooth as possible and add two cups of water and pulse a few times. Pour the garlic mixture into a glass container and let sit for one day. The mixture needs to be stored in the fridge when it is not being used. When ready to apply to your rose bushes, strain off the solids and add water until it equals one gallon. Using a spray bottle apply the mixture to roses once every two weeks. This mixture will help keep your roses looking great all summer long.

Baking Soda

Baking Soda can be a helpful ally in keeping your roses healthy this summer. If your rose bush suffers from black spots that make the leaves dark or discolored, a baking soda spray can be a safe and easy way to clear up those spots if applied at the first sign of the disease.  To make a baking soda spray just dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in one quart of hot water and pour it into a spray bottle and spray your rose bushes, making sure to cover both sides of the leaves. Although baking soda will not kill black spot, it does create a chemical condition on the leaves that make black spot difficult to grow. Because baking soda washes off rose leaves when it rains this solution will need to be repeated multiple times before the plant will see results.

Don’t tolerate pests this summer. Give one of the tips listed above a try. From all of us here at Precision Siding and Construction we wish you the best of luck on your gardening endeavors this summer and hope that these tips were helpful.