8 Glorious Rose Guardians

Roses are tasty gourmet fare for a whole lot of gluttonous insects — which is why the Queen of Flowers is generally bombarded with more chemical pesticides than any other plant on the planet. Well, friends, don’t buy into that nonsense! Nontoxic plant-care methods work just as well for roses as they do for any other plants.

What’s more, simply by planting certain flowers and herbs around your rosebushes, you can close the buffet line, even to Frequent Diners Club members like Japanese beetles, aphids, and spider mites. Here are eight of the most potent bug chasers on the planet:

• Artemisia
• Catnip
• Chives
• Four-o’clocks*
• Garlic
• Nasturtiums
• Petunias
• White chrysanthemums (no other color)

*Four-o’clocks are poisonous to Japanese beetles, and also to people and animals, so don’t plant them if pets or small children play in your yard.