How do I get rid of aphids on my rose?

Aphids love to feed on young buds and foliage by sucking the sap from the soft new growth. Being notoriously fast breeders, aphids can quickly gather in large numbers and cause problems. Although they will not cause long term damage to a rose or affect its overall health, they can damage and destroy newly forming buds. However, aphid attacks are thankfully short-lived as the new growth quickly toughens up as the season goes on and becomes harder for the aphids to feed on. If left alone predators such as ladybirds and lacewings will also quickly move in and keep the aphids under control. We would strongly advise against using any chemicals that can have a negative effect on wildlife. Aphids are a food source for many different species, so by poisoning them you can accidentally be passing those poisons on to other creatures as it makes their way into the food chain. Chemicals can also unintentionally affect pollinators and other garden friendly insects as they visit the plant. We would therefore recommend using an organic horticultural soap instead. Soft-bodied insects such as aphids breathe by taking in oxygen through pores on their skin. The soap works by coating the aphids’ bodies, clogging up these pores and causing suffocation. The soap is not harmful to other wildlife and will not cause any damage to your plants, although we would recommend against spraying foliage during the middle of the day to avoid the risk of leaves becoming scorched by the sun.