Pests on roses: how to recognise and control them

Like all other plants, the rose is plagued by a number of pests that have it in their sights. 

We have put together the most important rose pests and listed for each a conventional method of control alongside a poison-free alternative.

If you decide to use insecticides, please do not simply help yourself from the shelf. Get advice first!

Every point of sale for insecticides must have a qualified member of staff who can inform you about the risks to your health, to your pets and to beneficial insects.
Please be sure to follow the instructions when applying, and choose a suitable time.

If you are not sure what exactly is troubling your rose, you may also want to take a look at the relevant section of our forum: Diseases and pests | Insects and arachnids.

 

A heavy infestation of scale insects can cause leaves and buds to drop. The reason is that the insects block the supply of nutrients. Aphids appear twice a year, at first from overwintering ones and later from those that have flown in.

Controlling aphids biologically

Strip off the affected plant parts; encourage natural enemies such as birds and ladybirds

Remedies against aphids

Various products are available in shops, please seek advice!
Natural ones based on pyrethrum.

​Symptoms are holes in the leaves, or leaves eaten away completely, and gnawed stems.

Controlling caterpillars on roses biologically

Pick the caterpillars off by hand; natural enemies: birds

Remedies against caterpillars

Various products are available in shops, please seek advice!

Symptoms are rolled-up, dry leaves. The pest injects a poison into the leaf stalk. The sawfly lays an egg in roughly every tenth leaf.

Controlling leaf-rolling sawflies biologically

For the time being, leave the leaves on the shrub but keep them under observation. If there are signs that the larvae are hatching (holes, gnawed spots on the leaf), remove the leaves and destroy them.

Remedies against leaf-rolling sawflies

Various products are available in shops, please seek advice!

The maggot of the pest, which grows inside the shoot, bores its way towards the base of the shoot. The result is a drooping shoot tip together with its bud. The transport of nutrients in the affected shoot no longer works, as the maggot feeds on the pith of the shoot.

Controlling the rose shoot borer biologically

Remove the affected shoot back to the last intact leaves. Find and remove the caterpillar.

Remedies against the rose shoot borer

Various products are available in shops, please seek advice!
They are usually applied preventively in autumn.

A golden beetle that has young buds on its menu. The grubs can also be very troublesome, as they feed on roots and are enormously hungry.

Controlling rose chafers biologically

Collect and destroy the beetles. If you discover the grubs, collect and destroy them as well (alternatively: feed them to the birds).

Remedies against rose chafers

Various products are available in shops, please seek advice!

Discussions on the most common rose pests

The garden forum also keeps coming back to pests, signs of feeding damage and damage patterns, as well as ways and means of controlling an infestation. 

• What causes gnawed leaves on roses?
• What are the small white insects / aphids on the roses?
• What is the small white caterpillar on my rose?
• This one is about hydrangeas, but controlling scale insects on roses is a very similar problem
• You should read this post if brown beetles are sitting in the rose blooms and eating them