[Eric Vinje]

Hi Deborah –

Well, you’re not the only one that enjoys roses. Pests and fungal disease love them too. Below are some common rose pests and problems taken from our Rose Gardening Guru page.

Leafcutter Bees. As their name suggests, leafcutter bees (smaller and darker than a common honey bee) cut precise round or oval holes from the sides of plant leaves, which are used to form nest cells.

Japanese Beetles. Found in most states east of the Mississippi River, Japanese beetles (1/2 inch) are metallic green with copper-colored wing covers. Adults are very destructive and chew small holes in both the leaves and flowers of rose bushes.

Most of the common rose diseases are fungal in nature. You can nip that problem in the bud by ensuring good air flow for your plants. That means providing plenty of room between roses, ideally five feet apart from each other. Overcrowding means excessive moisture and gives fungal spores the opportunity they’ve been waiting for.

If you’re having difficulty diagnosing what the problem is, enlist the aid of your local agricultural extension agent or a friendly rosarian. You can also visit our Pest Problem Solver for pictures, descriptions and a complete list of earth-friendly remedies.

Happy gardening!

[Author]

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