Knowledgebase

Rose pests #870545

Asked May 29, 2024, 8:53 AM EDT

Hello, I have 4 rose bushes which have been damaged this year (this is my first year having them, planted last fall). In the beginning of thr season they looked like current picture, and then there were black aphids with clear wings. I used neem oil and the aphids died, but then the holes and spots came back (I have not noticed any more actual bugs or eggs underneath). I then tried a bioadvanced "insect, disease & plant mite control". It gets better for a new growth of a few leaves, but then they start to get eaten again and the whole plant gets more spots. They are in shade in am and full sun in afternoon / evening against siding of the house, so they get very hot. These are 3 different rose types, first is a coral miracle shrub rose, 2nd is a tea rose, and 3rd is a knockout rose

Carroll County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi, 

It looks like you have a multitude of diseases that are common to roses. 

The first photo with the yellow spots could be rust. If you flip the leaf over and look at the underside there will be more orange looking "rust" symptoms. 

The second photo is black spot. 

The third photo looks like a few holes from rose slug sawfly larva. 

You can refence our Common Rose problems diagnostic page for more details on all of these and guidance on management. 

Rust is a common fungal infection for weather conditions that are cool and moist. It is difficult to control if the weather conditions are consistent for favorable fungal growth, so typically it doesn't warrant control. 

For the rust and the black spot, cleaning up the leaf litter in the fall and taking the heavily infected leaves off will help with the spread. You can look for a rose fungal spray and start applying  per the label directions - usually every 7-14 days, to help with infection. You can do that now and will need to keep up with it until the fall, then start again next spring. 

Roseslug sawfly larva don't harm a plant enough to kill them usually unless they are otherwise stressed. They may defoliate the plant but they usually leaf back out when they have matured. You can hand pick off the worms until predators start to eat them. 

If you have further questions, feel free to continue to reach out. 

Emily

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