In QQ2ea.140306$eG2.18014@sccrnsc03 Allegra wrote:
Aphids are certainly a pain, and other than Safer soap and big, nasty
showers with the dial on jet I know of no way to get rid of them.

Allegra, I have sprayed twice for aphids this entire season (and it's
autumn here in Sydney now). Only twice. And they are TOTALLY under
control.

I have always been a fan of systemic insecticide for aphids, thrips and
other sucking insects. Yes, they are organo-phosphates and you need to
be careful handling them. But once sprayed, they work and they don't
harm anything that doesn't eat your roses. Rain, foliar feeding etc
doesn't make any difference to their effect once the spray is in the sap
system.

My mistake, until this year, was that I selectively sprayed only bushes
where I could see aphids on the stems. The spray did work for 6 weeks
or so, but after that the aphids would return. I thought that was
normal.

This year I tried spraying all my bushes when I saw a few of them with
aphids. The result? Genocide. It obviously got rid of unseen infant
colonies that were hiding on other bushes, and it stopped them spreading
again when the systemic (I use Rogor) wore off.

I can't recommend systemic insecticides highly enough. Use them with
care and you can stop worrying about aphids, period.

"Daniel Hanna" wrote

Allegra, I have sprayed twice for aphids this entire season (and it's
autumn here in Sydney now). Only twice. And they are TOTALLY under
control.

I have always been a fan of systemic insecticide for aphids, thrips and
other sucking insects. Yes, they are organo-phosphates and you need to
be careful handling them. But once sprayed, they work and they don't
harm anything that doesn't eat your roses. Rain, foliar feeding etc.
doesn't make any difference to their effect once the spray is in the sap
system.

My mistake, until this year, was that I selectively sprayed only bushes
where I could see aphids on the stems. The spray did work for 6 weeks
or so, but after that the aphids would return. I thought that was
normal.

This year I tried spraying all my bushes when I saw a few of them with
aphids. The result? Genocide. It obviously got rid of unseen infant
colonies that were hiding on other bushes, and it stopped them spreading
again when the systemic (I use Rogor) wore off.

I can't recommend systemic insecticides highly enough. Use them with
care and you can stop worrying about aphids, period.

Hi Daniel,

Personally in our new garden for some reason they are not
a problem at all. I have no better explanation that perhaps
the microclimate in here seems to encourage the presence
of lady bugs and other predators, or perhaps some of the
spraying we do for blackspot, cercospora, anthracnose,
etc. may have something to help with the problem.

I suggested the spray from my MG book, a notation from
some time in the past when our teacher swore by. I have
no personal experience but I am in agreement with you
about systemic usage. Properly done, following the label's
instructions to a T continues to be the best and most practical
solution for most of these problem pests.

Thanks for the suggestion, as always appreciated,


Allegra

Thanks Daniel for the tip. I headed to the nursery now and I'll see
what they have....

I can't recommend systemic insecticides highly enough. Use them with
care and you can stop worrying about aphids, period.