Aphids are particularly common during the summer months and they work by sucking the sap out of the plant. Roses which suffer from an aphid infestation may have curled leaves or a sticky substance on them known as honeydew. This can sometimes lead to sooty mould, but according to David Austin Roses, it won’t harm your plant.
Whilst an important food for wildlife, if you do want to reduce the population to protect your plant, there is a simple way to do so. Posting on the David Austin Roses Facebook page, Dana Dobrescu wrote: “What do you recommend for my aphid infestation? All my roses are under attack. I used a commercial spray, but it was useless.”
The rose owner shared a photo of her plant, which showed hundreds of aphids surrounding the flower.
They are commonly found on the underside of leaves, so it’s important to check this area regularly.
The post attracted hundreds of comments from group members, all recommended a homemade spray.
Linda Moran commented: “Spray with washing up liquid and water mixed together.”
Jill Heiman said: “You could leave them for the ladybugs to eat, but if it’s really getting to you, mix washing up liquid and water. Spray the rose and watch aphids slide off.”
Diluted washing-up liquid will disrupt the pest’s environment, but it will need to be applied every few days, especially after rain.
Excessive soap can harm plants, so be sure to use this method sparingly.
Other ways to get rid of aphids are to encourage ladybirds into the garden.
David Austin Roses said: “In most cases, aphids are best left alone. They’re an important food source for ladybirds, hoverflies and other beneficial insects and play a crucial role in your garden’s ecosystem.
“If their numbers increase, a strong spray of water is usually enough to reduce them.
“You can also gently rub them away or encourage natural predators by planting companion plants like parsley, yarrow or nasturtiums.”