DIGGIN’ IN: Time to change up ammo against aphids

Q: I have a couple of old sad rose bushes in the front yard, west-facing right against the house, that are driving me MAD. I noticed aphids on both in mid-February and did what you’ve always suggested, hosing the bushes off with the hardest stream of water the bushes can stand. That got rid of most of the aphids but they came back. Then I mixed up 2 teaspoons of dish soap in a gallon of water and sprayed with a hand pump sprayer — boy, my hands got tired. I still have clusters of these bugs everywhere a leaf pops out of a stem and even some clusters along the major branches. What should I try next to get what you call a really good hunt? — K.R., Albuquerque

A: It’s time to change up your ammunition.

I know it’s a tough decision to ramp up strength-wise when needing to control insects, but I truly think it’s time. I hope you’ll invest in a hose end sprayer (to save your hands) and then purchase a pesticide that contains either insecticidal soap or pyrethrin.

The insecticidal soap is a bit safer, but it’s still a pesticide, so treat either product with the necessary respect by reading the label completely so you are applying the pesticide properly.

It’s not “soap” either. Insecticidal soap is the salts of fatty acids that are found in many soaps that have been captured to be used as an insecticide.

Since the roses live on a west exposure, that tells me they get a lot of sun, and with this peculiar weather we’ve had, they are already thoroughly warmed up. Please aim to get them sprayed before any flowers appear so no pollinators are affected. That means soon.

Read the label completely, noting temperature application restrictions and proper dilution ratios through the sprayer, etc. Keep in mind that more is not better.

First I would suggest another hard plain water spray to knock down or at least loosen the colonies of aphids. Then be sure to offer the bushes a really good drink of water pre-pesticide spraying. Then spray. Probably early morning will be best. That way the wall of the house will have cooled off from the day before, making it easier on the bushes.

Dressing appropriately, get out there and spray the bushes, top to bottom, inside and out, and aim for underneath the leaves too, soaked to dripping wet. I’d even spray the house wall and the ground in a four-foot-diameter circle surrounding the bushes.

Then, according to the label, spray again as soon as you can. That way you’ll get the next hatch if there is one, and in theory the bushes should be mostly aphid-free.

I’ve never been a fan, but there are systemic fertilizers that have pesticide and fertilizer in the same mix, and you might consider one for this year until the bushes regain their vigor. If the roses pop out buds between sprayings, I’d consider cutting them off to keep any pollinators out of harm’s way for the time being.

I don’t have an explanation as to why your roses are so favored by the aphids except that living so close to a warm wall they think they’ve found a really good place to set up shop. Just be vigilant, and you should be able to keep the upper hand when controlling the aphids.

Dear readers: The Cactus and Succulent Society of New Mexico will have its 2026 show and sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 11, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at the Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE. There’ll be a silent auction, indoor/patio exotic rare plants available, local vendors, and xeric cacti and succulents for purchase. So mark your calendars for this fun event.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Diggin’ In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.