Question
Dear Charlotte,

I have a severe problem with aphids on my climing roses. I'm not big on reptiles and I have no idea how to get rid of them. They are turning the leaves brown and ruining the blooms. I would rather use a home remiedy than a chemical. Please Help!!!!!

Thank you
Amy R.  

Answer
Hi Amy;
I have climbing, teas, shrub, hedge and florabunda roses, and NO aphids!! I had damage all the time when I used insecticides, and since I let my lizards eat them, I have none.
I am not keep on reptiles either. Would have to cut off my hand if i touched a snale or toad. Would have to think seriously about it if I touched a lizard. I don't mind looking at the lizards, in fact, I talk to them if they are on a rock etc when I am out there, but I don't wanna TOUCH em!
I can't stand to look at a snake, or even a picture of them. worms are just tiny snakes to me. YEUWCK!!!
But I love what they do for me, so I wouln't let anyone put anything down to harm them.
I have plastic pots to plant stuffin, and keep them in a stack behind my garden shed. I know the grass snales like to get in those stacked pots, so I take a stick, and tap the outside and shake the stack a little. I can hear then scurrying down through the holes in the bottom to the next pot. I rattle it as much as i can as I lift one off the top of the stack. I don't want to even see one of those little dears.
I know they are in my yard and garden, and I protect them and make a healthy home for them, but I DO NOT ask then to tea.LOl
Bear in mind that is you use chemical fertilizers and weed killers and insecticides, you kill out all the beneficial microbes, insects, and critters that will take care of all the for you better then the chemicals will anyway. and it's cheap labor. you can't beat the price, they're FREE!!!
Charlotte