Question
Dear Lynnette,

I have 2 large Knock Out Roses that bloom very well but have been plagued with Rose Slugs.  All the leaves are lacy on the entire bushes.  I spray with Sevin and would like to know what other spray I can use and also if I should cut the bushes back now due to the infestation?

Answer
Don't cut the rose bushes back as roses need all the leaves (eaten or not) to keep their strength up. Sevin is a mild spray for insects but rose slugs are tough and do the damage under the leaves, not on top, which makes it more difficult to eliminate. Try a Bayers insect spray that has cyfluthrin in it or Ortho's Orethene Systemic Insecticide Control. You need a chemical that gets into the leaves so when the slugs bite the leaves, it poisons them. There will be eggs in the soil at the base of the rose so next year around May, use the spray again on the rose and all around th base of the rose bush.