Watch out for aphids, the most common rose pest.
Aphids are sap-sucking insects that can be found on roses during spring and summer.
How to identify aphids
- Green or pink insects clustered on shoot tips, young foliage or flower buds
- Flower buds and foliage covered in sticky honeydew
- Black sooty mould growing on honeydew
What to do
Make sure to check your roses regularly from early spring so that action can be taken before a damaging population develops. Ladybirds are a natural predator of aphids and will help control population growth.