Question
I have about 25 roses among my landscape that covers 1/2 acre.  Each rose is covered in thrips.  I am desperate.  I have been using 2 Bayer products: rose3 in1 and insect killer.  I am not having a bit of luck.  What do you suggest?

Answer
Thrips feed at the base of the rose buds and then they move to the rose petals. Because they are so tiny, they can easily hide and spray will not get to them. What you need is what is called a systemic type of spray for insects. That type of spray gets into the sap and when the bugs eat they are poisoned so it doesn't matter how tiny they are. I would also snap off all the blooms that have them in them and put  in the garbage as they will reproduce in the damaged rose flower.  You can get rid of many this way. You use the systemic spray when the buds are forming, Ortho,s Orthene seems to be the spray best for thrips. Don't forget to also spray all around the base of the rose bush as that is also where they will be the soil starting to pupate. It also wouldn't hurt to give them a spray now with Orthene.