Pests that affect the curling of rose leaves
Rolled rose leaves are one of the most common types of damage. It is not the drought that is to blame for the fact that the rose is dotted with rolled leaves, but the larvae of the leaf wasp – small green worms.
Who rolls rose leaves into tubes? Longitudinally twisted leaves in tubes speak of infection with a small sawfly.
Among the most common pests of roses are sawfly larvae – caterpillars (Blennocampa pusilla). The symptoms are easily recognizable: the halves of the leaves curl up and form a tube.
Additional Information! Leaf damage by a small sawfly is often very minor, but as soon as a leaf sawfly appears, it is bad and action must be taken with an insecticide.
The pest of the small sawfly is a wasp only 3-4 mm long, black and yellow, with white membranous wings.
From mid-May to early June, lays one to three eggs on the edge of the leaf. The hatched larvae are whitish, later light green. Adult caterpillars of the leaf sawfly are 6 to 10 mm in size, and their coloration matches that of the leaves. Only one generation per year: mature larvae penetrate shallow into the soil, where they overwinter.
Caterpillars live in these tubes in May, June and early July. In July, adult caterpillars leave the leaves, fall to the ground, winter in the soil, pupate there in the spring, and in May, adults fly out of the soil.
Note! The little sawfly makes the rose drink roll into little tubes. Mostly damaged varieties with softer leaves and young greens. The sawfly does not attack roses with shiny and smooth leaves.
An insect only a few millimeters in size usually hatches from the ground under the plant at the same time as the leaves appear. Tiny rose leaf wasps lay their eggs under young shoots. Later, a small greenish larva is found in most of the rolled leaves. The leaf reacts to this stimulus by curling along the vein of the leaf.
The rose will not die from parasitic wasp infestation, but the problem will not be solved by itself – you need to intervene. It is recommended to completely and carefully cut off all stems with twisted leaves from the rose.
Additional Information! This insect has only one generation per year. Therefore, it is best to pick the affected leaves and get rid of them (burn, put in a container). In no case do not put the affected parts of the plant in the compost.
Spider mites, aphids, leafworms suck out the life-giving juices and gnaw the leaves, bevels and worms undermine the roots. The pest causes the youngest leaves of roses to noticeably curl into tubules. Deformed leaves become a hiding place for larvae. They gradually corrode the leaf tissue, after their exposure only coarse veins remain.
Spraying with a pesticide is not particularly helpful as the pests lie well in the rolled leaves. However, if almost all the leaves are infected, they are unlikely to be picked (because then the rose will be naked). However, in the autumn it is possible to remove the soil under the rose and add new soil, greatly limiting infestation the following year. In the spring, compost or fertilizer is added, which strengthens the roses against pests and diseases.
Rose pests
When pests appear, the plant is carefully examined, especially young leaves, which are especially attractive to parasites. Aphids, on the underside of leaves and on young upper shoots, cause leaf curl and stunting of shoots. Plants are stunted, leaves turn yellow, curl from sticky honeydew. If curled leaves appear, remove them by hand and discard.
Other causes of leaf curl
If the leaves began to deform, but no signs of pests are visible, then the rose feels uncomfortable and lets you know about it. It may be a violation of plant care.
One reason for this problem can be sudden changes in temperature. Roses are quite cold-resistant, however, sharp drops in temperature are one of the causes of leaf curl. You should also ensure that rose bushes are not exposed to strong drafts.
Irrigation disruption. The growth and development of any plant, first of all, depends on a sufficient amount of incoming moisture. Summer is by far the hottest time of the year and therefore the month when roses need water the most. Roses should be watered as soon as the soil is dry.
If the leaves are lowered and slightly twisted, then the rose does not have enough moisture.
The reason for the curling of the leaves may be improper lighting: an excess of shade or, conversely, strong direct sunlight.
Dosage and frequency of feeding. An excess of even the most useful and necessary fertilizers can change the structure of the flower tissue. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations when fertilizing roses. Also note that the drugs may not work on the larvae, so you will need to process the bush again after a while.
Prevention of diseases of roses
At the end of winter or the beginning of spring, it is necessary to carry out a quality cleaning under the rose bushes. Remove the top layer of soil along with autumn residues and replace it with new fresh soil. Under the bushes carefully dig and loosen the soil enough. It is also necessary to cut the stems of roses in March, but no later than mid-April. At the same time, it is advisable to carry out spring fertilization of roses in March or April.
There is a wide range of fertilizers for roses on the market, classic mineral fertilizers are suitable for this period.
When growing all roses, the rule of prevention applies: regular watering of rose bushes to the roots, not forgetting about fertilizing, constant inspection for the first traces of pests, annual thorough spring pruning. By following these rules, you can minimize the occurrence of unwanted diseases and harmful insects, and help keep roses healthy and beautiful.
