Question
We just moved here from San Diego and live in Garden Ridge (north of San Antonio).  I have 13 rose bushes, newly planted and some blooming, that seem to be doing well except some of the new buds have been attacked by a yellow worm (almost like those on the oak trees)that ate into the bud and the entire tip of the stem has died.
What is the best insect spray or natural way to combat the insects here?

I know it's harder than where we came from, but I still love roses.

Thank you!

Answer
Hi Valinda-

I agree - it is a lot harder to grow roses here than it is in California.  I grew up in Santa Cruz, California and I remember my mother growing the rose "Peace" with minimal effort.  But here in Texas, we have hotter summers, more drought, and more humidity (and perhaps more insects?).  I have 10 times more trouble growing certain disease/insect susceptible roses here.  I have to be quite choosy with the types of roses I select to grow here.  Roses that thrive in California - die here quite easily.  I can suggest that you buy *any* herbicide/insecticide  they sell at any garden center.  I don't have a favorite.  You can try planting marigolds around the roses - insects don't like the scent of marigolds.  My favorite idea is to select disease and insect resistant types of roses - much less trouble and expense in my opinion.  My favorite hybrid teas for this area are:  Veteran's Honor, Granada and Chrysler Imperial, and the HT climber Don Juan.  Some good florabundas are Gene Boerner, Spartan and Love. I don't have insect problems with these roses and I haven't sprayed in two years.  Other roses that do quite well are the EarthKind roses:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkindrose/browse.html
my favorite Earthkind roses and David Austin roses are: Belinda's Dream, Buff Beauty, Knock Out,
Queen Elizabeth, Graham Thomas, L.D. Braithwaite, Molineaux, Hermosa, Gruss an Aachen, Linda Campbell, climbing Jeanne La Joie, Mrs. B.R. Cant**** (wow), and Mrs. Dudley Cross**.  

You can get these roses above from Chamblees Roses or Antique Rose Emporium on the web.  If you want to keep the roses you already have - just spray them with a good herbicide/insecticide (like I said I don't have a favorite - I don't even like to spray).  If or when the roses you already have die - I would recommend replacing them with one of the roses listed above, or an EarthKind rose.

Sincerely,

Carlene