How to combat green caterpillars on roses using only folk remedies

Gardeners often encounter rose pests called green caterpillars. They cause significant damage by eating buds, leaves, and flower buds. This not only spoils the appearance of the flowers but can also lead to their death.

Therefore, for anyone growing this plant or deciding to do so for the first time, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the causes and signs of these pests, as well as traditional methods for combating them.

Reasons

Caterpillars can appear on roses when new shoots or leaves emerge. Depending on the climate of the area where the flowers are planted, this occurs between May and June. They are usually the larvae of the rose leaf roller moth. These moths begin to fly in the spring when the air temperature reaches 15 degrees Celsius. Over the course of two weeks, they lay eggs, which hatch in late May, causing damage to the plant.

Green caterpillars prefer flowers growing in shade or with high humidity. If your rose is located on the sunny side of your plot, the risk of butterfly larvae hatching will be significantly reduced. Sometimes, no more than 5-10 caterpillars can be seen on a rose bush, but in some years, their numbers reach such a high level that the plant becomes completely covered in them.

Weather conditions can also influence their occurrence and numbers. Frequent rainfall creates a favorable environment for plant pests. The larvae of many insects spend the winter on bushes, so mild frosts and relatively calm weather encourage the emergence of numerous caterpillars. With the arrival of spring, it's important to inspect old rose bushes to promptly address any problems that could lead to their death.

Signs

To maintain the beauty of your rose, pay attention to its appearance. If you notice any sudden changes, it could indicate the presence of pests.

The main signs of damage by green caterpillars:

• The appearance of holes in the leaves. These holes later become severely deformed or only the veins remain;
• rose buds lack pistils and stamens;
• the flower petals are badly gnawed;
• As the caterpillars remain on the rose for a long time, it begins to weaken due to a lack of nutrients and loses its marketable appearance.

Leaf roller larvae weave webs around the leaves and petals of flowers, creating a shelter for themselves in which to pupate.

Treatment

The first thing you should do if you find caterpillars on your rose bush is to pick them off by hand. If there are too many, you can protect your roses from the pest by spraying them with remedies prepared according to folk remedies:

• Burdock solution. To prepare the solution, fill a third of a bucket with the plant's leaves, fill it to the top with water, and let it steep for 3 days;
• Nightshade decoction. Place 5 kg of crushed leaves in a bucket and add 10 liters of water. Boil the mixture for 4 hours, then strain and add 4 liters of water. After cooling, the decoction is ready to use;
• Wormwood decoction: Pour 3 liters of water over 1 kg of the plant and simmer for 10 minutes. Then add another 7 liters of water and let the decoction steep for 10 days. Wormwood has strong antiseptic properties, which helps repel pests from roses.
• Mustard. It can be sprinkled on the top layer of soil around the bushes to prevent green caterpillars from climbing the plant from the ground. Prepare a mustard solution by adding 100 g of powder to 10 liters of warm water. Mix thoroughly to dissolve the mustard completely. Then spray it on the rose bushes, leaving them in this state for at least 3-4 hours. The best results are achieved by leaving the solution on the plants for 24 hours. This method is used by many gardeners and flower growers because it is 100% effective.

It is not enough to use folk remedies once, so if necessary, repeat the procedure after 2-3 days.

Insecticides should only be used if there is no result and the caterpillars continue to eat the rose bushes.

Timing is key when it comes to treatment. Begin treating the plant at the first sign of pest infestation, or if you spot even one green caterpillar on the leaves or buds of the rose.

Consequences

When caterpillars settle on a flower, they begin to eat its leaves and buds. This significantly spoils the appearance of roses. They lack essential nutrients, weaken, and lose their beauty. The buds become small and pale, and the leaves become deformed or reduced to veins. This causes significant financial losses for those growing flowers for sale.

Failure to promptly eliminate pests increases the risk of plant diseases. An excessive number of caterpillars in a short period of time can cause the death of roses.

Resistant varieties

According to gardeners, it's best to plant varieties that have increased resistance to green caterpillars:

• Angela;
• Don Juan;
• Westerland;
• Knirps;
• Lucia;
• Scarlett;
• Sympathy;
• Freesia;
• Schneewitchen;
• Uetersen.

Prevention

To reduce the likelihood of roses being damaged by such pests, it is recommended to take some preventative measures:

• Hang butterfly traps around the area to catch the larvae of butterflies that damage the flower. To do this, glue together small paper houses and place sticky sheets soaked in pheromones inside.
• After the roses open, carefully inspect their stems. If any eggs are found with bark, remove them. If the caterpillars are located at the ends of the shoots, cut off these areas and treat them with copper sulfate.
• all plant remains must be burned outside the area;
• Before the buds open, the flowers need to be sprayed with nitrofen, and in May – with bifenthrin.

Adviсe

To ensure that pest control products are more effective and do not cause harm, gardeners recommend following certain rules:

• To apply solutions to rose bushes, spray the plant from all sides with small sprayers that create a mist effect. This will eliminate larvae hiding under leaves or buds by enveloping the affected area in the healing solution. If you use jet sprayers, the released solution will knock down some of the caterpillars and then drip to the ground.
• if there is an excessive number of pests, it is better to use chemicals;
• the plant should be treated no earlier than the air temperature reaches +15 degrees;
• use protective equipment (glasses, gloves).

Flowers with hard leaves are less susceptible to caterpillar infestation, making them preferable for growing. Choose a location with adequate warmth and light. This will not only reduce the risk of pest infestation but also promote plant growth.

Reviews

Caterpillars appeared simultaneously on our old rose bush and the newly planted one. I picked them off the small one by hand, but the neighbors advised spraying the larger one with mustard. I did this in the morning with a broom, and in the evening I bathed the roses in clean water. Two days later, I repeated the mustard spraying, and the pests never appeared again.

Maria, 29 years old, Voronezh

This summer, I noticed holes appearing on the rose leaves. I inspected the bush and discovered caterpillars. A neighbor at the dacha suggested a recipe for controlling them – a burdock solution. We have a lot of burdock growing here, so collecting the leaves is easy. I sprayed the bushes three times, and the problem was solved. Now I inspect the stems every spring to keep an eye out for any potential new arrivals.

Tamara, 34, Samara

Green caterpillars are very dangerous for roses, especially if left untreated. To prevent damage to flowers by these pests, choose the right planting location and practice preventative measures. If you spot them on leaves or buds, spray them immediately with a treatment, as the beauty of roses depends largely on prompt treatment.