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Want to play "What's eating my Rose Bush Leaves"?

I have what I believe is a "Blue Boy" rose bush and it seems to be progressing fairly well, but I've recently noticed that there are...SHAPES that seem to have been cut out of the leaves. Now I say shapes because they're not exactly "holes", they aren't round - rather they seem to follow a path of the leaves veins to form more of a "window" shape.

I know the "blue" roses are pretty susceptible to black spot and I have a milk mixture that I've started using & is at the ready in the fridge for reapplication, but from what I know these window shapes aren't a symptom of black spot.

I've also noticed quite a few of what appear to be carpenter bees (possibly bumblers but I've never really gotten close enough to be sure), but the only mention I can find on bees making holes in rose leaves talk about round holes.

I haven't noticed any pests on the bush, nor under it's leaves (but I'm still kind of new to roses and don't always know exactly what to look FOR).

Like I said, the plant as a whole seems to be flourishing just fine, good colored leaves, strong new buds. But no explanation as to what's causing the windows on the leaves.

4 Answers

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  • 7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Funny that,the same is happening to my roses.I found a few tiny caterpillars under the leaves and sprayed them,but it looks as though they are there again.I use a Yates Rose Gun spray,it is good for aphids & black spot as well.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    7 years ago

    If they are caterpillars you can spray them with Bt.

    If they are sawflies, Bt won't do anything. Usually a systemic insecticide like Orthene will be effective against sawflies, aphids, and Japanese beetles.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    7 years ago

    . Unless the damage gets significant and is affecting 2/3 of the leaves I would just ignore it. Give the rose a little slow release fertilizer and it will put on new leaves replacing old damaged leaves. Black spot disease is usually prevalent in areas where there is a high amount of summer rain.

  • Anonymous
    7 years ago

    aphids are the main bugs on roses , 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 litre of water is a good rose spray for preventing black spot

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