Here’s an organic spray we’ve had success in using to control insect damage and blackspot on our roses. You can use just the insect spray alone or add baking soda to control disease and even liquid fertilizer to feed, all in one application. Spray your roses every two weeks or after a heavy rainfall, being sure to cover the undersides of the leaves as well as the tops. Spray in the early morning or after the intense afternoon sun has moved away so the rose leaves don’t scorch as some roses are sensitive to having water sprayed on them when the sun is out full and hot.
Basic Insect Control for Roses
In a blender puree 2 garlic bulbs (not cloves, but the whole heads of cloves, peels and all) and 3 chili peppers in 2 cups of water. Steep in a sealed container overnight then strain through cheesecloth or sieve, pressing out all liquid. Discard pulp and store liquid in tightly sealed glass container in fridge. Use ¼ cup of liquid and 1TBS lemon-scented dish soap to a gallon of water.
To Control Blackspot and Powdery Mildew
Add 2 TBS of baking powder to your gallon mixture from above.
To Foliar Feed
Add an organic fertilizer such as Neptune’s Harvest fish and seaweed emulsion to the gallon mixture above, following the recommended amount of concentrate listed on the bottle.
Battling Japanese Beetles
Nothing will repel them and traps will do more harm than good as they will lure in more beetles than are already present. In the morning walk through the garden with a bucket of soapy water and knock them from the flowers into the bucket. You can also add a tablespoon or two of dish soap to a spray bottled filled with water and spray directly on the bugs to kill them.
