Bayer Advanced All in one Rose and Flower Care...do I just apply it to the base of the plant? What about the ants that are already on the plant? And how often do I put it on?

Ants don't eat plants. Look for caterpillars, slugs and/or snails, days and after 10 pm.

Ants are often on plants when small sap-sucking insects are present. Look for aphids, mealybugs, scale, and whiteflies.

Bayer Advanced All in one Rose and Flower Care is a systemic poison, you work it into the soil around the plant and the plant is supposed to uptake the poison to where the insects are eating and they then ingest it and it kills them.

There is some evidence that these systemic poisons get into the nectar the bees collect and causes them health problems that contribute to their demise.

As Jean kind of alludes ants are not the problem many people think although they may be a symptom of a problem. Mostly ants are part of Ma Natures recycling machine and they help clean up our planet after us.

kimmq is kimmsr

Kimmq, what would you suggest I use? I don't want to kill the bees.

What to use depends on what the problem is. The problem might be a disease and not an insect, or it could be an insect, or it could be environmental stress. Perhaps this article may be of some help in determining the problem.

https://hort.purdue.edu/ext/roseofsharon.html

kimmq is kimmsr

Jerry Baker can take care of your ants. Go fry some bacon and save the fat. Mix equal parts borax and quick cooking grits in a bowl. Add the rendered bacon fat and make cakes out of the mixture. Let them dry. Leave one or two at the base of your shrub. The ants will feed, go back to their home, swell up and die. No more ant infestation.

Jerry Baker is a known charlatan and his advise can create more problems than they solve.

kimmq is kimmsr

OMG, Kimm.....please don't give incomplete directions for a pesticide! I'm more than surprised that you would do so. Your recommendation is not what I found. Belinda needs to call or go online to obtain the specific directions and application rate for her exact product.

MaryWindham, you are kidding, right?

Belinda, what is your general location? If in an area where fire ants are common, it is well known that those omnivorous insects are attracted to tender plants and sweet buds, fruit. Members of the Malvaceae family are a favorite of fire ants, whether aphids are present or not.

I live in northwest Arkansas. We have a lot of ants this year, but most of the ones we see are teeny, tiny black ants. They bite us and are EVERYWHERE in our large yard.

Looks like thrip damage, could be the chilli thrip (extremely hard to get rid of)