Roses are a favourite flower among gardeners and are popular in many outdoor spaces. The flowers, known to represent romance, can bloom in red, pink, white, yellow, orange, among others.
Despite their beauty, they are also a firm favourite target for pests and diseases, which is why it’s important to protect them as they come into bloom. Ants, snails, and spider mites are known predators of roses, and garlic has been tipped as the solution to keeping them at bay.
This is due to its strong smell, which these insects tend to avoid. The pests love to eat their way through flowers, leaves and fruits, stripping through a plant in no time – but with garlic placed close-by, it’s thought pests will swerve them instead.
Slugs, aphids, snails, and caterpillars, are among the creatures posing a serious threat as they love to munch on plants, leading to ruined crops. But garlic as well as onions, and chives are an excellent companion when it comes to planting, according to Gardenia – and this is because of their potent aroma.
Alongside keeping your plants safe, garlic also has a little-known health benefit for your roses as it promotes the growth. It can also prevent the development of black spots on roses because of its anti-fungal properties, while enhancing their fragrance. Growing garlic beside roses is also said to improve the flower’s scent, which is something many gardeners aim for when growing these romantic and vibrant blooms.
Garlic is also a great companion for fruits growing in your garden, such as blueberries and strawberries. Additionally, it supports the growth of marigolds and chamomile.
Planting garlic near your roses is easy, and even if they have finished blooming for the season, they can be put into the soil at any point. Gardening experts do recommend autumn is an ideal time to plant garlic, which will sprout and die back throughout the warm and cold seasons.
You can use garlic cloves from your kitchen, simply removing individual cloves and planting them in the soil. It’s best to space them apart and plant them about a foot away from the base of your rose bush. When planting, ensure the pointed part of the garlic clove faces upward.
Soon after planting, your garlic will sprout green shoots. These shoots will stay green in warm-winter but will die back in colder regions. Don’t worry, though—new shoots will appear when spring arrives.
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