What's eating my touch of class rose?

Touch of Class Rose faces the usual rose pest lineup outdoors: aphids, Japanese beetles, thrips, and occasionally deer. Thrips are especially problematic on this Hybrid Tea, distorting the elegant high-centered blooms. Scout buds closely before they open and act early to protect the flowers this variety is prized for.

Petals show brown streaks or silvery flecking; buds fail to open properly; tiny slender insects in flower folds Remove and discard damaged blooms; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use reflective mulch to deter adults

Curled, sticky new growth; clusters of green or black insects on stem tips and flower buds Knock off with water spray; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators like lacewings

Lace-like skeletonized leaves; adults feed on open blooms, consuming petals rapidly in summer Hand-pick into soapy water; apply pyrethrin in the evening; avoid planting near beetle-attracting fruit trees

Canes and foliage browsed overnight, especially in spring when new growth is tender Install deer fencing; spray repellents (garlic- or egg-based) and reapply after rain