What's eating my princess alexandra of kent rose?

Princess Alexandra of Kent Rose faces aphids, rose leafhoppers, slugs, and black spot. Aphids are the dominant pest, colonising the abundant new growth this repeat-flowering David Austin shrub produces. Its cupped blooms can trap moisture, making monitoring for thrips inside flowers worthwhile during warm, dry spells.

Dense infestations on new shoots and buds; sticky honeydew, ants farming aphid colonies, and twisted emerging leaves Spray with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin; encourage ladybirds; pinch off the worst-infested shoot tips early in the season

Petals streaked or flecked with pale silvery marks; flower buds may fail to open or petals turn brown at the edges Remove and compost damaged blooms; apply spinosad or pyrethrin spray to buds; blue sticky traps near plants to monitor populations

Coarse pale stippling across upper leaf surfaces; white cast skins beneath; foliage looks bleached in heavy infestations Spray undersides of leaves with pyrethrin in late spring; improve air circulation by thinning congested stems

Holes chewed in young leaves and petals at ground level; characteristic slime trails Use ferric phosphate pellets; set beer traps; hand-collect after dark or in wet weather