"Trish Brown" wrote in message
news:010bc4e2$0$20663
I tried the suggestion of smearing vaseline around the stems of the roses,
but it didn't work (probably because I hadn't got much vaseline left and
didn't use enough for it to be effective). Instead, I tried smearing with
Vicks (of which I have a huge pot, being the mother of two excessively
snotty children). Guess what? No more aphids! I am *such* a happy camper
and thank the original vaseline poster (sorry, I forget who you were) from
the heart of my bottom! ;-D

PS. It's the ants, see. They cart the aphids up to the rose tips and
'farm' them for their honeydew. If you can stop the ants, you stop the
aphids! So, if the rose bush is in contact with anything the ants can
march on, find a way to make a barrier (vaseline or Vicks should work) or
tie the offending branch back. Good luck!

--

Hmmm... never tried Vicks or Vaseline before. Will give that a go too!
Inventive!

Thanks.