We have a rosebush that's being decimated by rose slugs. Does anyone have an org

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   The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years ago

   We have a rosebush that's being decimated by rose slugs. Does anyone have an organic solution?

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   sheilamyersposted 10 years ago

   I don't know if it works for all slugs, but I've been told if you put beer in shallow dishes or lids from jars, the slugs will be attracted to the beer and it'll kill them.

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      The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Sheila!

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   davenmidtownposted 10 years ago

   Slugo is supposed organic... we always use a beer bottle 1/4 full of beer... they crawl in and drown...

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      The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I'll check out Slugo. I put out some beer, but all I got was wood roaches! I'm not sure where rose slugs go at night. Thanks, Dave!

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      davenmidtownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You might do a little experiment using cheesecloth, fruit and borax... mix the two, wrap in cheesecloth, and hang it in the rosebush. The slugs must go down into the leaf litter below the plants. They have to remain in moist conditions or the dry out

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      The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I actually have some Borax as well as fruit & cheesecloth.. I'll give it try, Dave. The slugs have very nearly defoliated the entire plant. Thanks for your help.

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      davenmidtownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      are you 100% sure it is slugs?

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      The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Dave. I'm very bad at identifying plant problems, despite going to several workshops about it, but I'm pretty sure these are rose slugs. They're the larvae of sawflies, and I've seen the flies around the bushes & the slugs.

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   Tina Julichposted 10 years ago

   My first thought was the beer in shallow dishes that others have suggested, but if you've tried that and it doesn't work then on to the next suggestion... My mom used to save her eggshells in a coffee can and crush them up after she had almost a whole can full, then she would sprinkle them around the base of her roses. I've heard that the slugs and snails don't like going over the sharp edges of the shells. I can't say for certain that she never had slugs on her roses but she never complained about them either. :-)  Diatomaceous Earth might also help since it is supposed to have sharp edges.
   And another note: My mom also saved any banana peels, cut them up and put them under the roses too. She thought both the shells and peels together made her roses grow better. She did have beautiful roses, too.
   Good luck, and if something works please post back so we'll know.
   Tina

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      The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      A gardening buddy suggested the diatomaceous earth, too. These rose slugs are the larvae of sawflies. They look more like worms to me than slugs, but they are soft-bodied, so the shells might work. Thanks, Tina. Oops, I'm about out of room!

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      davenmidtownposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Diatomaceous earth is made up of silica... the same stuff they use to make glass. It only works if it is consumed. If these are saw fly larvae as mentioned below, then it will likely not work since they will not consume it.

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   suzzycueposted 10 years ago

   Put crushed egg shells around them. Slugs hate to cross on broken egg shells or cayene pepper but you cannot do cayene pepper if you have pets.

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      The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi syzzycue. Just put down about two dozen crushed eggshells this morning. I'll sprinkle cayenne in a bit when I hang the borax bags up. Something's gotta work! The bush is just about defoliated--with blooms. It's looks like a parable on life & d

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      suzzycueposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I hope your weren't too late. The aphids got my gratefruit tree and I am hoping it has a leaf on it soon. I used epsom salts and vinegar to spray it then watered the plant with the rest of the solution. I appreciate the pick of Best Answer thank you.

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   cat on a soapboxposted 10 years ago

   If these rose slugs are the little green things that rasp and skeletonize leaves, they are actually the larvae of sawflies which lay eggs on leaf bottoms. Many organic things kill them including insecticidal soap, neem, and spinosad. The problem is getting UNDERNEATH the leaves effectively. Here is a link to a Solo Sprayer: https://www.planetnatural.com/product/s … d-sprayer/
   I find that my birds and parasitic wasps do a pretty good job, but I too am seeing quite a bit of damage this Spring. The sawflies lay the eggs in early Spring and, depending on the variety, can have 1-4 cycles per year.

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      The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, these are the larvae of sawflies. I've never had a problem before. I've been spraying w/ insecticidal soap. Getting underneath is hard. Hope there's something left for the Jap. beetles to eat! Thanks for the advice. Hadn't considered neem oil

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   The Dirt Farmerposted 10 years ago

   
   
   Returned from a week out of town to find the rose bush looking worse than ever. Thanks for the advice, you guys, but I think I'm going to cut it down, dig it up and bag it. ):

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