Roses are just beginning to flourish in June, and there is a very simple way to help them grow the highest quality flowers possible. As summer approaches, it is important to protect roses from pests that can damage their leaves and weaken the plant’s ability to store energy.
Luckily, you do not need to rely on chemical pesticides, as John Toepfer and Susan Brandt, the gardeners behind Blooming Secrets, have shared that planting lavender near roses is a simple and natural way to ward off certain insects. They said: “Lavender goes well with roses because it attracts pollinators, provides a natural repellent to pests, and reduces disease risk.”
Roses are very vulnerable at this time of year as insects such as aphids are attracted to the flower to suck the sap from their steams.
Other pests such as slugs, whiteflies and beetles often eat away at rose foliage since their leaves are very soft, which makes it easier for them to chew on them compared to other flowers.
However, lavender has a natural, perfumed fragrance that many rose-eating insects hate and will find irritating, which will keep them away from the general area.
Lavender is also rich in essential oils that many pests find unappetizing and will deter them from approaching all plants nearby.
The smell of lavender may repel certain bugs, but it will attract pollinators like bumblebees, butterflies and ladybugs that will encourage bigger rose flowers. Ladybugs are known to eat aphids as well as other pests, which makes lavender an extremely valuable plant to have next to roses.
What to know about planting lavender near rose bushes
Roses tend to do well in the same area as lavenders, as both plants need around six to eight hours of sunlight a day.
However, lavender prefers drier soil while roses thrive with consistent moisture, so it is best to plant lavender at the edges of a rose bed, where the soil tends to dry out more quickly.
The gardeners said: “While these two plants like similar growing conditions (full sun, well-draining soil), lavender does not need to be fertilised as often as roses, so make sure these two plants are grown two to three feet apart. Pink roses will look great with the purple lavender.”
Make sure there is plenty of space between the flowers so they are not competing for resources, and allow more airflow to prevent disease.
Once lavender is growing near roses, it will keep most pests away, so you are more likely to grow bigger and healthier flowers that stay thriving throughout the summer.