Bugs on Knock Out Roses

Preventative Maintenance

• It is important to take precautions to ensure that Knock Out Roses don't fall prey to insect pests. Remove dead leaves and plant litter from the base of rose plants. This helps to eliminate insect habitats where pests can flourish.

  Endeavor to keep your roses healthy by watering and feeding them, as needed. Weak plants are easy targets for pests. Examine the plants frequently to determine their vigor and water plants at the base to discourage mildew and root problems that would serve to weaken rose bushes. Regular pruning will also encourage strong, healthy growth.

Insect Identification

• Before deciding to treat an ailing plant, it is critical to identify the insect pest. A good field guide or a website might help to identify the type of bug that is targeting Knock Out Roses. Once identification is complete, a corrective course of action can be laid out. This could involve either the use of biological or chemical means.

Biological Pest Control

• Biological pest control involves introducing another creature to control the population of an offending pest. Birds, bugs and beasts can all play a part in the solution, depending on where you live. Packages of beneficial insects can be ordered online and shipped live. Once released into the garden, they will address the problem by hunting and feeding on the bugs that are attacking the Knock Out Roses. Consider adding suet feeders to attract insect loving birds to the yard to combat pests.

Use of Pesticides

• Determining the type of insecticide to use to combat bugs on Knock Out Roses will not be easy until the insect has been identified. Once the culprit has been labeled, seek out a chemical dust or spray that specifically states that it can combat the offending pest. Keep in mind that many pesticides will kill a broad spectrum of insects, both beneficial and non-beneficial. Only apply the chemicals in the areas that need it.

Warnings

• It is never a good idea to introduce a non-native species into a garden to control bugs. Non-native species can become invasive, wiping out other species and upsetting the delicate balance of nature.

  Additionally, insecticides should be used with care because they are often toxic to humans. Do not use any insecticide near food-producing plants unless it is labeled safe for application on fruits and vegetables for human consumption.