Roses and Garlic

[Persephone]

I've heard repeatedly that planting garlic between rose bushes helps keep off pests.

Any experience out there? Would like some real-world input before I launch my garlic-between-roses campaign.

Persephone

[NoOption5L]

Sorry, none here. However, marigolds seem to help mine.

Patrick

[mleblanca]

I tried this with garlic chives rather than garlic. It did keep the aphids away from the roses: they were attracted to the garlic chives instead! They were _covered_ with aphids! I decided that I would just leave the aphids on the roses and let the hummingbirds/ladybugs/soldier beetles take care of them. And they do.

Emilie Nor Cal

[Phisherman]

I did exactly this. The garlic has been growth there for 10+ years, popping up in January then dying off in the June summer heat. I still use a systemic, else my roses would be covered with aphids. The garlic has no or little effect with Japanese beetles. The garlic seems to enjoy all the cow manure, fish emulsion and other fertilizers applied. Other than appearance, I don't see a lot of benefit from the garlic.

[Persephone]

Thanks to all who responded.

Not sure WHAT aphids look like! After all these years...!

Are they the icky-sticky little things that cluster on the new buds and the adjacent stems, right at the beginning of the new growth?

If so, how do you get them off? I just wipe them off with my fingers (ick) or sometimes a wet paper towel.

If NOT the same, how do you get off the "icky-sticky" little things described above?

TIA

[len garden]

g'day persephone,

yes the theory being that garlic even garlic chives growing around the roses or any plants for that matter, distracts the ants from wanting to be there, so therefore no ants means no aphids/mealybugs/scale insects.

lot sue the process

snipped With peace and brightest of blessings,

len & bev

-- "Be Content With What You Have And May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In A World That You May Not Understand."

[FragileWarrior]

Persephone wrote in news:YuedndbU99V8DovbnZ2dnUVZ_t [e-mail]:

That's them. Sometimes you can just hose them off (but it just moves them elsewhere, I suppose). I've used a hot sauce/water mist to remove them for a while and sometimes they don't return for a long while after a good coating of that. Beneficial insects are good, too. Buy a bunch of praying mantises and watch how fast THEY have a feast. I've gotten a real appreciation for praying mantises in the last few years.