Aphids on roses

peteS

How damaging are aphids on roses. I've a couple of small ramblers, probably 8-9 feet high, growing well but the new growth and buds are smothered in aphids already. Do I need to spray to prevent damage, or is it something which does no long term damage to the plant or buds. I've tried squashing them, but the next day they're back, heaven knows where they come from.
Thank you.

GemmaJF

They will easily damage the growth and new buds. Weak washing up liquid solution in a hand squirter. Spray them liberally, encourage them to fall off with fingers, spray again. Repeat every 2-3 days and it will control them.

nick615

.....if not, boil rhubarb leaves, strain off the liquid and spray on when cool.

debs64

If you can hold your nerve and leave them the ladybirds 🐞 will soon move in and hoover them up or try hanging bird feeders nearby a lot of small birds eat aphids. 

Dovefromabove

Early in the season I brush them off with my fingers or squirt them off with a hose ... then the bluetit families, ladybirds, lacewings and wasps deal with them for the rest of the summer.  I no longer spray aphids with anything ... I find the results are better without. 😊 

B3

I didn't really believe the bird thing. I usually do the fondle of death on the buds and young leaves but I have recently put a bird feeder near my roses and the birds are definitely after something.  Definitely fewer aphids so far.