Great year for roses but where are the green and black fly?

It's all looking lovely,Denise..and no,I haven't seen many either..Just a few greenfly early summer,which were so few ,I was able to just squash them off the buds.My bird feeder is above the Roses,so they must have helped themselves too..Dessert ? :o)...I had blackfly on the underside of the Camelia last month..the ants were a dead giveaway ! a couple of garlic sprays,and they were no more :o)

Hi Denise - lovely roses! We do have a bit of blackfly on the Viburnum opulus, and yesterday I saw greenfly on the climbing sweet pea, but they are the first I've seen.

Lovely roses , I love the orange one.

Your roses are beautiful :)

Come to think of it I haven't seen any aphids either.
There are very few insects around these days - especially here. I haven't seen a ladybird for years, and the only butterflies I've seen this year are about 3 white ones.

I wish there were fewer Vine weevils :D

We've had some butterflies but far fewer than usual - and now you mention it I've seen no aphids at all.

Plenty black fly on my dahlias if you'd like some sent over!
That orange Rose is a lovely colour.

I think they are on mine Denise! I'm pleased yours are looking so well. Hope you are well too, not 'spoken' to you for ages. :o)

I did have some greenfly during the end of May, but after a quick spray no greenfly...but I have had caterpillars which have even eaten the thorns!!

Was only saying yesterday I hadn't seen any greenfly. Happy days. Does this mean next year there will be no slugs. .?

Hi everyone, I do seem over run with slugs and snails and standing plant pots on stands does not seem to stop them stripping some plants.
I am well thanks for asking and very busy as I am setting up a trust for my son and buying him a flat. It needs adapting for him and I am organising this and helping him adjust to the idea of living on his own, which he has wanted to do for many years and now thanks to his generous aunt it is now becoming a reality. It has 2 bedrooms and the 2nd will be a study for him. Fingers crossed I get it right as I have to supply everything he needs but I have a good budget for this and am doing lots of home work before I complete on the property in September when I can start the refit. He will need a lot of ongoing support but its in a small town 5 miles from us which make it easier in bad weather and dark evenings.I biggest joy of it is is that my husband and I can do this while we are still alive.

Im over run with slugs and snails too...but very few green/black fly here in N. Ireland..:>)

How do you manage to grow such beautiful roses with no black spot......ours are covered, so disappointed......btw no greenfly some blackfly earlier on though.

HI M and DD I do spray with a fungicide every six weeks but also every six weeks I feed with a good rose food and add a handful of dry Epsom salts around it plant as I think if they are healthy they resist disease more. I start this right after the first early spring prune. Any disease or yellow leaves I do see I pick off and never leave them on the ground.
In the past when disease has been bad I pruned rather heavily in the autumn removing any diseased leaves and scraped away some of the soil around each plant to lessen the amount spores then gave them a hefty mulch, in the spring I started the regime above and mulched again. I do think a light airy spot and a dry windy summer helps.

Aren't your Roses just beautiful? That's great news about your son becoming independent. Does he still help out in the book department?

Lovely roses. I too have not had any green/black fly since early summer since I squashed them all with my fingers & thumbs but sadly, not seen, not even 1 ladybug, my fault for taking their lunch I expect x

The book shop closed and he has not found another one ST.

Sorry to hear that Denise ... when my OH ran a charity shop he found it so helpful to have a volunteer who would sort and display books ... :o)

I am glad your son is finding the independence he wants. You and hubby will be reassured about this new chapter in your lives. All best wishes for the move in September.

Thanks ST and SBG we are taking it slowly so as not to overwhelm him and make it a good experience all round.

Many thanks for your input re blackspot.....

It worked for me DD.

Your roses are gorgeous Denise, no green'blackfly here this year either, strangley enough we do not have any ants either, saw a few ladybirds in the springtime but they disappeared again, pleased to say I have seen a few butterflies in the last couple of weeks so thats an improvement on last year and lots of bees but pleased to say no wasps again..
Hope all goes well for your son and the move into his own flat ...

Ants - now you mention it we have had many fewer this year too.

I have not seen ants either. I dug a new rose bed and sign of the robin while I dug.

I can't believe how few ants you ladies are having,as we are absolutely over run with the little B******s this year...Never ever have we had so many..All our neighbours are the same,and we daren't even leave an outside door open..We have tried all the solutions possible,even the one with half and half mixture of vinegar and washing up liquid,that someone suggested a short time ago,to no avail..I'm all for nature,but there is a limit !

That sounds awful perhaps mine emigrated to you lol

Ha ha,Denise..I'm sure yours wouldn't attempt to come indoors without being invited ! :o))