Little green bugs on roses

[dandave]

I had a climbing Blaze that was completely covered in little green, mite-looking bugs. I sprayed it with a soap and baking soda mixture, and I've about killed the plant.
Now, I notice these same little green bugs on my pest-resistant, disease-resistant, Spring Hill shrub roses.
If you have any ideas about these bugs and with what to treat them, please help. :(

[olena]

They might be aphids. Or maybe these. (http://www.rumwoodnurseries.co.uk/plantcare/capsid_bugs.htm)

[dandave]

Thank you very much Olena!

I checked out the aphids there, too. They showed green aphids. For some reason I always thought aphids were whitish. I noticed that some of the leaves do have some moldy stuff, so I'm thinking it very well may be aphids. Thank you, again!

[olena]

You can find varying advice on killing off the aphids. I think lady bugs eat them. Another school of thought I've seen says to fortify the rose. That way, it can help control problems on its own.

I've had great success with Sevin. The Sevin Dust is pretty popular, but I prefer the liquid concentrate. I mix it up in a sprayer (for big jobs) or a spray bottle. I usually squirt a little dishwashing soap in there to help it adhere to the foliage. One thing people often forget is to spray the under-sides of rose leaves. That can be to most vulnerable part and the bugs love to hide there.

[dandave]

I have fed the roses pretty well with plant food tabs I've gotten from SH. It's supposed to last for up to 2 years. The roses are very pretty and full of buds. I was very surprised to see the bugs on them earlier. I have them away from the dying Blaze, so I was hoping they would be OK.

I'll have to get some of the liquid Sevin tomorrow. Thanks again! :)

[olena]

Good luck!

Be aware that the Sevin (dust or liquid) will whiten the foliage. Read the bottle to make sure Sevin will handle your pests. You can also ask someone at the store.

[shep]

I've heard that you can spray them off with the hose...:)
Good Luck..

[DixieDreamer]

With roses, I like to use a systemic fertilizer. It combines systemic insecticide with a good fertilizer. The roses are provided "bug" protection from the inside out. You can find them at any of the larger nurseries and home/garden centers. You just sprinkle and scratch in the combo fertilizer/insecticide into the soil around the base of the plant. The only other "care" the roses need beyond that is an occassional pruning, composting, regular root zone watering, and occassionally - a spray of fungicide if it is a variety that is susceptible to molds and mildews. I have one rose variety that requires the fungicide sprays or it get's black rot.

[dandave]

Thanks again to all! I ended up buying a Bayer product. It takes care of aphids and numerous other bugs, just in case these aren't aphids. It's supposed to last up to 30 days and be rain proof. I sprayed the plants thoroughly.

Shep, I tried picking some off, but ewww! ;)