Leslie Massey
Rose bushes are generally easy to grow, but they can be attacked by pests and diseases, or suffer from environmental issues. In Australia, pests that eat roses range from small insects like caterpillars, beetles, thrips, and aphids to larger animals like possums, parrots, wallabies, goats, deer, and horses. Some pests chew holes in the leaves or trunk, while others pierce and suck out plant juices. To prevent pest damage, you can physically remove the pest, use companion planting or garlic spray, or try chemical sprays as a last resort.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Insects that eat roses | Caterpillars, Earwigs, Garden Weevils, Sawfly Larvae (Roseslug), Snails, Slugs, Thrip, Aphids, Mites, Whitefly, Scales, Japanese Beetles, Leafcutter Bees |
| Animals that eat roses | Possums, Parrots, Wallabies, Goats, Deer, Horses, Cockatoos, Lizards, Rabbits |
| Diseases | Black Spot, Sooty Mould, Rust, Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, Grey Mould, Rose Canker (Rose Dieback), Root Rot, Rose Mosaic Virus, Cercospora Leaf Spot, Crown Gall |
| Insect repellents | Pyrethrum-based insecticides, Eco-oil, Neem-based spray, Insecticidal soap, Neem oil, Yates Nature's Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray, Yates Lime Sulfur, Homemade baking soda spray, Homemade milk spray |
| Animal repellents | Bird scare tape, Electric fence, Companion planting, Garlic spray, Physical removal |
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What You'll Learn
- Insects and other pests, such as cockatoos, cockatoos, deer, lizards, rabbits, and possums
- Sap-sucking insects, including aphids, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and scales
- Chewing insects, like caterpillars, earwigs, garden weevils, and snails
- Diseases, including black spot, sooty mould, rust, and powdery mildew
- Environmental issues, such as weather conditions or improper care
Insects and other pests, such as cockatoos, cockatoos, deer, lizards, rabbits, and possums
Cockatoos and other birds:
Birds, especially cockatoos, are known to eat or pull off rose flowers and fruits. To deter birds from your rose bushes, you can try using bird scare tape, which is very effective against parrots. Alternatively, you can install a Bird Gard unit, an environmentally friendly option that will keep birds away from your roses without harming them.
Deer:
Deer are attracted to rose gardens and will eat the buds, blooms, foliage, and even the thorny canes of rose bushes. They are especially fond of new, tender growth. To protect your roses from deer, consider installing a fence or using commercial deer repellents. If deer have already damaged your rose bushes, prune the broken canes and seal the cut ends. Watering the bushes with a water and Super Thrive mix will help the roses recover from the stress of the attack.
Rabbits:
Rabbits are another common pest that enjoys eating young rose plants. To prevent rabbits from destroying your roses, you can try installing a small fence or using motion-activated deterrents, such as fake owls or sprinklers. Chicken wire can also be effective, but it is important to ensure there are no gaps for rabbits to crawl through. Commercial rabbit repellents, such as Bobbex, can also be sprayed on your rose bushes.
Possums:
Possums are larger than insect pests and are usually found at night. They feed on rose leaves, flowers, and fruits, especially rose hips. While a few missing leaves may not be a concern, you can deter possums with commercial repellent sprays or companion planting. Garlic spray can help educate possums not to eat your roses, or you can try planting lavender, chives, marigolds, mint, or garlic alongside your rose bushes to slightly change their taste.
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Sap-sucking insects, including aphids, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and scales
Sap-sucking insects, such as aphids, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and scales, are common rose pests in Australia. These insects feed on the plant's sap, sucking out the juices and causing damage that can lead to deformed buds, flower loss, and even defoliation. While some pest activity is tolerable, if left uncontrolled, these insects can weaken and possibly kill the plant.
Aphids
Aphids are tiny, sap-sucking insects, usually about one to two millimetres long. They appear with the warming weather and quickly build large colonies. Aphids cluster on rosebuds and growing tips, piercing the plant's surface to feed on developing shoots and buds, resulting in deformed buds, flower loss, and defoliation. To control aphids, it is recommended to avoid insecticides and let nature take its course, as insecticides can harm the environment and garden biodiversity. A natural method of control is the introduction of a tiny parasitic wasp, Aphidius rosae, which feeds on aphids.
Thrips
Thrips, specifically chilli thrips, are a burning issue for rose growers in Australia. They are difficult to control and are prevalent across the Perth metropolitan region. Chilli thrips damage rose leaves, causing distinctive brown scarring along the leaf veins, light brown spots, curled and dried leaves, and deformed shoots and flowers. They are often found deep in the flower or on the undersides of leaves and can be monitored using adhesive traps, preferably blue, as it attracts chilli thrips. Preventative sprays with active ingredients like imidacloprid or acetamiprid are effective against thrips.
Mites
Two-spotted mites, also known as red spider mites, are sap-sucking mites that thrive in hot and dry summer conditions. They are very small, measuring about 0.5 mm, and are challenging to see without magnification. Signs of mite infestation include bronze discolouration of foliage, webbing, and a messy, dirty appearance on the undersides of leaves. Mites dislike water, so a strong spray of water on the plant can help deter them. For larger infestations, spraying a miticide or using predatory mites is recommended.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies are small insect pests that typically fly away when disturbed. They are found on the underside of leaves, often in large groups, and are associated with the disease Sooty Mould. Whiteflies cause yellow leaves and wilted stems.
Scales
Scales are small, sap-sucking insects about 0.5 cm long, covered in a dome-shaped waxy armour that can be hard or soft and come in various colours. They are found on stems, leaves, and trunks, drilling into the soft tissue of the plant to feed. Scales can breed and spread rapidly, weakening or even killing the plant if left untreated. Treatment depends on the infestation's severity; small problems can be managed by physically removing scales with a fingernail or toothbrush, while larger issues may require pruning and spraying with agricultural sprays like white oil or eco-oil.
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Chewing insects, like caterpillars, earwigs, garden weevils, and snails
Caterpillars are a common pest for rose bushes in Australia. They can be physically removed from the plant and picked off the bush.
Earwigs are another insect that may be found on rose bushes, particularly in the evenings. They congregate in the centres of the flowers, but it is unclear if they are causing damage to the petals.
Garden weevils, a type of small beetle, are also known to eat roses in Australia. They drill small, round holes deep into the flower buds and hips for feeding and egg-laying. The adult beetles feed on the flower buds, causing unsightly damage to the blossoms. They also feed on the tips of new rose shoots, which can cause the shoots to die. To eliminate them, you can go out at night with a torch and pick them off your plants.
Snails and slugs can also be a problem for rose bushes, although this is based on UK sources. They leave a trail behind and can eat flowers and vegetables. Slug bait or beer traps can be used to kill them.
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Diseases, including black spot, sooty mould, rust, and powdery mildew
Black spot, sooty mould, rust, and powdery mildew are common fungal diseases that affect roses in Australia. These diseases can cause significant damage to rose plants, and sometimes even lead to plant death if left untreated.
Black Spot
Black spot is a widespread disease that commonly affects roses, particularly in warm and humid climates. It is caused by the fungal pathogens Marssonina rosae and Diplocarpon rosae, which favour wet and humid conditions. Infections occur when water remains on the leaves for extended periods, and spores are easily spread by rain or water splash. The disease appears as irregular black spots on the leaves, which become feathery or fringed with yellow margins. It primarily attacks the foliage but can also infect stems. If left untreated, leaves will yellow and fall, weakening the rose bush and potentially leading to defoliation and plant death. To prevent and control black spot, it is important to improve light and air flow around the plant, avoid overhead watering, and practise proper pruning and sanitation. Early identification and treatment are crucial to reducing the spread of the disease.
Sooty Mould
Sooty mould is a fungal disease that can affect roses, although specific information on its occurrence in Australia is limited. It often appears as a black or dark coating on the leaves and stems of infected plants. Sooty mould typically grows on the honeydew produced by sap-sucking insects, such as aphids, scales, and mealybugs, which feed on the plant's sap. The mould can reduce the plant's ability to photosynthesize, affecting its growth and health. To manage sooty mould, the underlying insect infestation must be controlled, and affected plant parts can be pruned or hosed off with water.
Rust
Rust is a fungal disease that affects roses, appearing as an orange powdery covering, usually in spots, on the leaves and buds. It thrives in environments with high humidity and still air, and it can spread easily via wind or water splash. To prevent and manage rust, it is important to ensure good air circulation around the plant and remove dense foliage through pruning. Regular watering and fertilisation can also help maintain plant health. Chemical sprays can be applied during the growing season to manage the disease, but they should be used with caution and according to the instructions.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease affecting roses in Australia. It is encouraged by humid and still conditions, and it appears as a white powder on new growth, bud stems, and leaves, which may become distorted. The fungus can spread via wind or water splash, and affected plant parts should be removed to prevent further spread. Chemical sprays can be applied during the growing season to manage the disease, but they should be used with caution and avoided during the heat of the day.
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Environmental issues, such as weather conditions or improper care
Rose bushes are generally easy to grow, but they can suffer from environmental issues, such as weather conditions or improper care. Roses suffering from environmental stress can be weather-related or due to a lack of care.
Weather Conditions
Warm, humid summer conditions provide the ideal conditions for fungal diseases to thrive. The two main problems are powdery mildew and black spot. Powdery mildew appears on new foliage and buds, first as a series of small white spots, which later become a furry mass of mould. It causes the leaves to wilt and wither and eventually die. Black spot shows up on older leaves as dark, circular marks, and eventually, the foliage turns yellow and falls to the ground. Both these fungal diseases can severely stress the plant and diminish its performance. To prevent this, when planting rose bushes, it is essential to space them far enough apart to allow for good air circulation all around.
Improper Care
Roses need to be well-watered and fed, and weeds should be controlled. To reduce the risk of fungal infection, water around the base of the plant rather than over the foliage, water only in the morning, and only water when the soil has started to dry out slightly. Treat at the first sign of disease. If you notice parts of your rose bush missing, identify the culprit and decide how to get rid of them. For example, you can physically remove the pest from the plant—this can be effective for caterpillars, which can be picked off the rose bush.
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