Ask The Gardeners, Q&A

Q Being an avid reader of your column, I noted your all-purpose spray for aphids on roses. I have an easier way to get rid of the aphids on my roses. Plant a clove of garlic at the base of each bush. The aphids do not like garlic and my roses are clean. Besides, I can harvest garlic for my kitchen. A. L. F. Sacramento, Calif. Good idea! We'd like to hear from others who have planted garlic to get rid of aphids.

Just in case anyone wants the formula for the all-purpose spray, which we find works on all small, soft-bodied insects:

Mix in 1 gallon of water 1 tablespoon each of liquid dishwashing detergent and hot pepper sauce, plus 1 cup of rubbing alcohol. Some folks tell us that they add a tablespoon of strained garlic juice to the mixture, prepared by simmering 4 minced or pressed garlic cloves in 1/4 cup of water.

If you have a question about your garden, inside or out, send it to the Garden Page, The Christian Science Monitor, One Norway Street, Boston, Mass. 02115. Doc and Katy Abraham are nationally known horticulturists.