Question
our roses seems to have resistance to chemicals despite us using chemicals from various groups. what can we do to keep them low apart from spraying.

Answer
Dear Abraham:

I would definitely choose roses that have higher resistance to disease and bugs.  Shrub roses, hybrid musks, florabundas, polyanthas, tea roses, china roses and some of the English roses seem to have much higher resistance to these problems and I don't have to spray these types of roses at all.  The types of roses that I don't have to spray (names) that are favorites of mine: Knockout rose, Belinda's dream, Earthkind roses (check the Texas A&M website), Buff Beauty, Queen Elizabeth, Molineaux, Mrs. B.R. Cant, Gene Boerner, Linda Campbell, Nearly Wild, Golden Showers, Blaze, Don Juan, Lavender Lassie, Gartendirecktor Otto Linne, Madmoiselle Franziska Kruger. etc.

There are sprays that keep bugs away that have natural ingredients in them.  If a rose in aphid infested - try spraying a direct pressurized stream of water at the foliage/buds to spray off the aphids.  Another idea I like is planting marigolds around the roses.  Marigolds have a pungent smell that keep insects away.  Another thing I do if I have hybrid tea roses that are suspectible to disease (like blackspot) I keep them planted farther apart, in the open, preferably full sun, so there is good air circulation and blackspot spores won't have a greater chance of being trapped in a tight space and get on the foliage.  You might try drip irrigation, or soaker hoses to prevent water getting on the foliage (which increases the chances of blackspot disease or mold/fungus diseases).  Do not plant roses that are suspectible to disease in part shade - that also increases the chances of disease.  Plant hybrid teas in full sun only, with lots of space around them for good air circulation (don't plant next to fences or houses on a shady side of the house or fence - bad idea).  The only roses that seem to have high disease/insect resistance in part shade is Hybrid Musk roses, Trier, New Dawn, Dr. W. Van Fleet or Veilenblau.

I hope this helps-

Thanks,

Carlene
aka the Flowerlady