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Good Grief, Somethings Eating My Rose Buds!

15 years ago

I have 4 Icebergs planted in front of a split rail fence. This morning I noticed several buds (probably close to 100) along the fence were picked/chewed off by something. None of the foliage was chewed, just the new tender buds at the very top of the stems. At first I thought it was squirrels as those darn critters are always doing damage to my plants. However, I also saw quite a few bird droppings on the leaves, ground and fence and noticed a couple of robins sitting there. I also have a potted Memorial Day up against the fence and a large bud has clear evidence it was picked at (but not off). If it was a squirrel IÂm sure it would have taken the entire bud and the branches are too high for rabbits. Has anyone else had problems with birds eating rose buds? Did anything prove effective in stopping them? I sprayed the bushes with hot pepper wax, but I'm sure that won't deter them.

Thanks,

Jeff

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Comments (8)

diane_nj 6b/7a
15 years ago
Never heard of birds eating buds. Squirrels or deer.
Patty W. zone 5a Illinois
15 years ago
Look to be sure there are no little crispy ends where the buds should be. That was my first thought when I look at my roses that something had eaten the buds. I wish thats what had happened turned out to be rose midge. I hope your buds where eaten thats can be fixed. I do have a ground hog who's very good a eating buds with disturbing the rest of the plant, but he much perfers campanala and if really hungery will eat the entire plant. Good luck with your roses Jeff.
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Could it be bugs eating the leaves and buds off my roses ?
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Comments (2)
The most common "eater" of rose leaves in California is the Bristly Rose Slug, the larvae of the Rose Sawfly. The sawfly is a pudgy little wasp. It lays its eggs on the UNDERSIDES of the leaves and the caterpillars feed on the UNDERSIDES of the leaves. The rose slug is tiny, no more than 1/4-inch long and very slender, and it's the exact same pale green as the undersides of the leaves. Talk about hard to see and find! It's the critter that "skelotinizes" rose leaves. It's pretty easy to get rid of, actually. Almost any good spray will do the job: insecticidal soap, Neem, pyrethrum. The trick is to spray thoroughly UNDER the leaves. Not stand back and spray all over. You have to get UNDER the leaves. By the way, a commonly suggested spray for rose sawfly is BT. It doesn't work. It doesn't work because it's meant for the caterpillars of moths and butterflies. The rose slug is the larvae of a wasp. And I'm not sure of any beneficial insect that preys upon it. As for your rose buds, Applenut has a good idea. Go outside late at night with a flashlight. The critter most likely is an earwig, sowbug or pillbug. It also might be a slug or snail. Joe
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something eating rose buds!
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My vote is on black beetles...they look kind of like June bugs, and they eat the buds on my roses all the time, if I don't happen to catch them. They feed on other flowers, too, like sunflowers. They move slowly, and I walk around with a dish of soapy water and pick them off one by one for a swimming lesson. Sometimes you have to look hard to find them. Of course, other things could be at work, but I just noticed the first beetles on my roses last week, so it's the right time for them. Marcia
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OK, so after I made a fool out of myself (but at least my heart was in the right place and I was TRYING to help) I sent the photo to a friend who is a biology professor and does a lot of "bug stuff". Without me telling him what tree you found it on, he told me it is a.....wait for it...."Gray Persimmon Weevil". I Googled that and am now 100% convinced he is right. Take a look for yourself: http://bugguide.net/node/view/179397/bgimage So....hopefully I've redeemed myself? And you were already on the right track. Hope that helps.
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Comments (11)
These are great ideas however I'm really looking for a way that would be appealing to the eye as she is located near our lounge area. Looks like I will just have to wait it out and see what happens when she blooms again. If necessary I will move her to a different spot. My veggie garden in starting to take off a bit so maybe the bunny will chew on some lettuce instead lol... Also, a little off topic but while doing a little research I read that planting marigold plant near a rose will protect aphids and other pests from attacking the roses because the will naturally head for the marigold over a rose... will have to try that out.
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bodiCA
15 years ago
{{gwi:268125}}
I have found this completely eating out the tender buds and leaving deep holes in other buds. Leaves left untouched.
aurora1701e
Original Author
15 years ago
I think Diane may be right -- squirrels. They aren't leaving any deep holes. They're taking the whole spray leaving only the stems. I just had to cut back one of my icebergs and now the middle of the bush is just about gone. Is there anything I can do to stop them?

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the_morden_man
15 years ago
Rats with bushy tails, a.k.a. Squirrels.
Not all of them do this and some only on certain roses, but I have watched the little F'ers do this to several of my roses planted near a fenceline. Graham Thomas seems to be a favorite.
cindyabs
15 years ago
The same was done to two of mine-they only seem to like pink roses!!! Picky little buggers. :(
jerseywendy
15 years ago
Aurora, live traps work great on bushy-tailed rats...ahem, I mean squirrels. I have relocated over 2 dozen squirrels over the past 3 years. You can get the trap at Home Depot, place a cracker with some peanut butter in there, and rather sooner than later you'll find one of those bud munchers in there. Make sure to take them far far away, so that they won't find their way back. (I usually take them to the nearby reservoir, about 2 miles from me)

Good luck.

---
Wendy
aurora1701e
Original Author
15 years ago
Wendy, what a great idea. Home Depot here I come!

Thanks,
Jeff

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