greenfly on roses

[janeyo]

Help, my patio rose (about 3-4 years I have had it) is covered in greenfly, but only on the new shoots. There are ants running all over too.

I have rubbed most of them off (I think) but what else should I do?

Thanks janeyo

[peanut]

I do as you've done, squish them and wash them off, over and over and over!

[Flummery]

Encourage small birds - bluetits love them!

[snuffer]

Greenfly

Hello Janeyo. I take it you don't want bto be using chemical pesticides. Here's a tip I picked up a few years ago for an home made organic greenfly control.

All parts of the rhubarb plant are poisonous, even the bit we love to eat in crumbles contains a small amount. The leaves have a much higher concentrate of this poison. (Sorry forget what it is called).

Take some leaves, cut them into strips and boil them in water. Open the kitchen window because it is a bit smelly. Once strained and cooled the resulting liquid makes an effective greenfly control spray.

Bare in mind that although this is organic it is still a mild poison and so should be used in the evenings when pollinating insects have gone home to bed. I have never read anything about it harming other insects but better safe than sorry.

Hope this is a help. It seems to work for me.

[yoanbob]

wee on the ants nest this will stop them farming the greenfly, or boiling water works too, try both.
rant rant hate ants rant rant!