13 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Rose Aphids

If your rose bushes have clusters of little pink or green bugs, there’s a good chance you have an infestation of rose aphids.

But don’t fret—there are several natural remedies to get them out of your garden and get your rose bushes back to their beautiful best.

In this article, you’ll discover how to control rose aphids naturally. We’ll focus on safe, organic, and eco-friendly methods.

Identification

Look for small (2 to 3.5 mm long) [1], oval-shaped, soft-bodied insects that are usually green but can also be pink, brown, red, black, or even white. They tend to cluster on new shoots and the undersides of leaves.

Aphids also secrete honeydew [2], so check for sticky leaves or spots of black sooty mold on leaves and stems. Curled, distorted, or discolored leaves are also common when aphids feed.

How to Get Rid of Rose Aphids Naturally

Once identified, utilize these natural and organic methods to control or eliminate rose aphids.

1. Orange Oil

Orange oil contains d-limonene, a chemical that can kill certain insects, like aphids, within minutes.

Therefore, mix a tablespoon of orange essential oil with a gallon of water in a spray bottle. Next, lightly spray it on the affected plant parts.

Orange oil is non-toxic to humans and leaves no harmful residue, making it a very effective natural pesticide for your roses.

2. Diatomaceous Earth

Dust the leaves with diatomaceous earth. When it comes into contact with the aphids, it sticks to their exoskeletons and absorbs their oils and fats.

This causes them to dehydrate and later die.

3. Nettle Spray

Nettle spray makes an excellent rose-aphid repellent.

Collect about 2 cups of stinging nettle leaves. Next, chop them up and add them to a gallon of water.

Now, let it sit for about 12 hours. The longer it sits, the more potent it becomes.

Strain out the leaves. Finally, spray the nettle tea directly onto your plants. It will repel those little green insects on your roses.

4. Avoid Over-Fertilizing

Excess fertilizer can lead to lush, green growth, which is more susceptible to rose aphids and other insect problems.

So, always follow the product packaging directions. Don’t use more fertilizer than recommended.

5. Hose Them

One of the cheapest organic ways to get rid of rose aphids on plants is to blast them off with a strong jet of water. Grab your garden hose and spray the little suckers off your rose bushes.

The force of the water will knock them off the plant. However, you may need to repeat this a few times to wash away all the aphids.

6. Garlic Spray

To deter aphids, make an organic garlic spray. Crush about 12 garlic cloves and soak them in water for at least 24 hours.

Next, strain and dilute the garlic water with more water at a 1:10 ratio. You can also add a few drops of dish soap, which helps the spray stick to the plants.

Spray the solution directly onto aphid infestations. The pungent garlic scent will repel the aphids.

Moreover, you can turn this home remedy into a rose aphid killer spray by adding one gram of chili pepper. This solution will kill the critters on contact.

7. Soapy Water

A simple, soapy water solution is one of the most effective natural remedies for rose aphids.

Mix a tablespoon of liquid dish soap or castile soap in a spray bottle filled with a quart of water.

Spray the soapy water directly on the aphids and leaves. The soap will suffocate them without harming your rose bushes.

8. Vinegar

The acid in vinegar is very effective at killing the tiny aphids. Therefore, you can make a homemade spray for aphids on roses by mixing one part white vinegar and three parts water.

Spray it directly onto the aphids. The solution kills them on contact.

However, do not spray the vinegar solution on sensitive plants, as it may damage them. Test a small area first to see if it causes leaf burn.

Vinegar is an excellent natural pesticide for roses and other plants.

9. Neem Oil

This natural oil contains compounds that repel and disrupt the feeding of aphids.

Mix a few drops of pure neem oil with water in a spray bottle and use it on your rose bushes. Start with one teaspoon of the oil per quart of water.

You can also add a teaspoon of liquid soap. Shake well to emulsify the oil and water. The soap helps the neem oil stick better to the plant.

Spray this DIY rose bush aphid spray on the tips of new leaf shoots and the undersides of leaves, where these aphids tend to gather.

10. Natural Predators

Introduce natural predators to your garden to help control aphid populations organically. Ladybugs, green lacewings, and hoverflies all feed on aphids.

You can also buy many beneficial insects online or at a garden center and release them near the infested roses.

The larvae of lacewings and hoverflies are especially voracious aphid eaters. A lacewing larva can consume up to 200 aphids per week [3]!

Encourage these good bugs to stick around by avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides that kill them and the aphids.

Plant small flowers like dill, fennel, and dandelions. These plants provide food and shelter to natural predators, making your garden more inviting for them.

A diverse garden with native plants will most likely attract and sustain a healthy community of natural pest controllers.

11. Repellent Plants

Planting repellent plants around your rosebushes is an easy, natural way to deter aphids. The strong scent of plants like catnip, lavender, basil, thyme, or rosemary will confuse and repel aphids on rose bushes.

You can also try interplanting nasturtiums, petunias, or marigolds with your roses. Their bright colors attract beneficial insects like lacewings and ladybugs that prey on aphids.

12. Trap Plants

Place plants like lupine, astrantia, calendula, and nasturtiums near your roses. These trap plants are appealing to aphids. The critters may bother your roses less if these plants are planted nearby.

13. Horticultural Oil

You can spray horticultural oil on plants to smother these pests and their eggs. This is a natural method of killing rose aphid infestations.

The oil clogs aphids’ breathing holes and suffocates them. It also prevents their eggs from hatching. For the best results, treat the whole rose bush.

Takeaway

Now you know there are plenty of natural remedies to keep rose aphids under control. The key is to be vigilant and not let an infestation get out of control. Try a combination of methods for the best results, and reapply as needed.