sticky leaves

[acapharmony]

Do sticky leaves me healthy or sick does anyone know?

[Newt]

Hi Acapharmony,

I suspect your roses have aphids or scale. Take a look to see if you notice these. They come in different colors and could be on the underside of leaves, on stems or even the buds.
https://www.ag168.com/product/rose/crop_rose_aphid.jpg.jpg

You can use insecticidal soap that you can make or purchase.
https://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/outdoors/194

You may see the larvae of ladybugs as they eat aphids, so try not to spray if you see these - top left pic.
https://www.oznet.ksu.edu/johnson/hort/Butterfly/BMPredators.htm

Newt

[Joanne]

Although I am an experienced gardener and have had the odd rose bush before I recently planted my first rose garden. I was advised that aphids do not like Tagetes so I planted these all over the rose garden. As well as filling the gaps between the bushes attractively there has been absolutely no sign whatsoever of aphids!

Success!



Joanne

[Grey]

For those in the States: Tagetes are marigolds. And yes, they do help keep rotten critters away because they stink.

[Joanne]

For those in the States: Tagetes are marigolds. And yes, they do help keep rotten critters away because they stink.

Yes but I was not referring to the common or garden marigold which looks like a weed and spreads like the plague.

These are a delicate little flower more like the French Marigold.

Joanne

[Elsie]

Hi Acapharmony,

I'd say you have aphids. It wouldn't be rose scale as these are a hard scale and don't produce honeydew (the sticky substance on your leaves)
You can control them by blasting them off with a hose, using an insecticidal soap, or pyrethrum. Also the sticky honeydew attracts ants, which discourages natural predators like ladybirds, hoverflies etc.so ant control is also needed.

Regards
Elsie