Pest identification
What's eating my sally holmes rose?
Aphids
Signs: Masses on flower buds and shoot tips; honeydew, leaf curl, and premature bud drop.
Control: Knock off with hose; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 7–10 days until controlled.
Scale Insects
Signs: Brown or white waxy bumps on canes; stems weaken and die back; sooty mold on honeydew below.
Control: Scrape off by hand; apply horticultural oil spray in dormant season; systemic insecticide for severe cases.
Japanese Beetle
Signs: Skeletonized foliage and chewed white flowers; single-flush blooms particularly vulnerable.
Control: Hand-pick daily; pyrethrin or neem spray; soil treatment with milky spore for long-term reduction.
Keep sally holmes rose pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Sally Holmes Rose pests — FAQ
What is eating my sally holmes rose?
Sally Holmes is a vigorous climbing/shrub rose whose large flower clusters attract aphids and thrips, while the long canes are favored by scale insects. Japanese beetles can cause significant damage to the abundant blooms in summer. Deer will browse accessible canes. Aphids on the flower buds are the most common complaint.
How do I get rid of aphids on sally holmes rose?
Masses on flower buds and shoot tips; honeydew, leaf curl, and premature bud drop. Knock off with hose; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 7–10 days until controlled.
How do I get rid of scale insects on sally holmes rose?
Brown or white waxy bumps on canes; stems weaken and die back; sooty mold on honeydew below. Scrape off by hand; apply horticultural oil spray in dormant season; systemic insecticide for severe cases.
How do I get rid of japanese beetle on sally holmes rose?
Skeletonized foliage and chewed white flowers; single-flush blooms particularly vulnerable. Hand-pick daily; pyrethrin or neem spray; soil treatment with milky spore for long-term reduction.