Insecticide ok to spray? - Ask Extension
Hi,
I have two roses I just planted about a month ago, that are about four feet from each other. One is done blooming and has no more buds, but is...
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Insecticide ok to spray? #877034
Asked July 12, 2024, 7:23 PM EDT
Hi,
I have two roses I just planted about a month ago, that are about four feet from each other. One is done blooming and has no more buds, but is being ravaged by insects/skeletonized. The other has some insect damage too, but not nearly as much, but it has a small flower bud on it (but far from open). The bud itself sadly has a little bit of it eaten off the top, too. I've seen Japanese beetles around, so wondering if that is the culprit.
My question is, if I have these two roses next to each other, can I spray the one that is done blooming with pyrethrin/neem (Bon-Neem II) without killing pollinators that could eventually come for the other rose when it opens? Is there a different product I should be using, if I'm concerned about killing beneficial insects/pollinators?
Thank you very much in advance!
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Liz,
Great questions. The first is to identify what the issue is with your roses. Take a look at the publication at the link below to see if you can identify the problem. If you can't, take a few photos of the roses (top and bottom sides of the leaves) and send them to me. Once you know what going on you can then take actions depending on the severity of the issue on your roses.
Rose: Identify and Manage Problems | University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu)
If you choose to use the Neem oil product do not spray it on the flowers. Read and follow manufacture instructions on the label.
Here's more info on the product you have:
Neem products: Neem oil is a botanical insecticide made from extracts of Neem tree seeds. The active ingredient is listed on product labels as clarified, hydrophobic extracts of neem oil. It is used to control a wide variety of insects, including leafminers, whiteflies, thrips, caterpillars, aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, scale crawlers, and beetles. Neem oil is most effective against actively growing immature insects. Neem oil sprays kill small insect pests and mites by suffocation, as do horticultural oil sprays, but also have some insecticidal properties. Neem oil sprays have some fungicidal activity, but it is typically limited to powdery mildew control. This control is primarily because it is an oil. However, a horticultural oil spray generally works better for powdery mildew control.
Pyrethrin naturally occurs in chrysanthemum flowers and is considered to be one of the best biodegradable insecticides. It kills insects by targeting their nervous systems.
Thank you for using Ask Extension.
Pam
MSUE Master Gardener
Great questions. The first is to identify what the issue is with your roses. Take a look at the publication at the link below to see if you can identify the problem. If you can't, take a few photos of the roses (top and bottom sides of the leaves) and send them to me. Once you know what going on you can then take actions depending on the severity of the issue on your roses.
Rose: Identify and Manage Problems | University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu)
If you choose to use the Neem oil product do not spray it on the flowers. Read and follow manufacture instructions on the label.
Here's more info on the product you have:
Neem products: Neem oil is a botanical insecticide made from extracts of Neem tree seeds. The active ingredient is listed on product labels as clarified, hydrophobic extracts of neem oil. It is used to control a wide variety of insects, including leafminers, whiteflies, thrips, caterpillars, aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, scale crawlers, and beetles. Neem oil is most effective against actively growing immature insects. Neem oil sprays kill small insect pests and mites by suffocation, as do horticultural oil sprays, but also have some insecticidal properties. Neem oil sprays have some fungicidal activity, but it is typically limited to powdery mildew control. This control is primarily because it is an oil. However, a horticultural oil spray generally works better for powdery mildew control.
Pyrethrin naturally occurs in chrysanthemum flowers and is considered to be one of the best biodegradable insecticides. It kills insects by targeting their nervous systems.
Thank you for using Ask Extension.
Pam
MSUE Master Gardener
