Buy An Insect Pest Free Rose

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May 8, 2006 Barbara M. Martin

Beyond overall looks and vigor, check your new rose bush carefully for pests before you bring it home from the store. Does it have aphids, whiteflies, or spider mites?

Besides looking for overall vigor and vitality in your rose bush, you should check it carefully as a pre-emptive measure against insect pests. You do not want to inadvertently import these into your flower garden! Not only can these pests affect your roses, they may also infest your other plants and flowers. Too annoying for words!

Check for Insects Pests

A healthy rose bush has no visible insects on it and no signs of insect damage. Examine the top and bottom sides of the foliage and along the stems for insects or signs of insect damage. Check the flowers and the buds for signs of insect damage, too.

Here are a few easy to recognize insect pests that I have seen recently on plants offered for sale:

  • Aphids Look carefully for aphids (small soft bodied insects that suck the juices out of the plant) congregating at the tips of the most tender new growth, on the flower buds, or along the thinner stems.

  • Whitefly Also check for whiteflies. These look just like tiny white gnats and will swarm up off the plant if you shake it.

  • Spider Mites Look for spider mites, very tiny pests that cause a stippled discoloration on the foliage and leave fine webbing along the stem and underside of the foliage. Note that these are actually mites, not spiders.

    • While these pests can be controlled through a vigilant and thorough insect control program, I feel strongly that no nursery or garden center should knowingly sell roses that are infested. If you find pests on a rose plant, please do not buy it and put your whole garden at risk of developing an infestation problem.

    MORE ON BUYING ROSES:

    This article is part 3 of the How To Buy A Great Rose Series:

  • Buying A Rose Bush

  • Buy A Healthy Rose

  • Buy An Insect Pest Free Rose

  • Buy A Disease Free Rose

  • Buying Roses: Healthy Roots

  • Buy A Rose You Love

  • Boycott Bad Plants! the infamous "Plant Rant" that started it all.

    ENJOY!

    All Flower Gardens Articles So Far

    Copyright 2006 Barbara Martin

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    The copyright of the article Buy An Insect Pest Free Rose in Flower Gardens is owned by Barbara M. Martin. Permission to republish Buy An Insect Pest Free Rose in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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