re. Littlemo ...Companion Plants...
 

have to say I love roses. will be working on a rose garden this year, whats the best thing to plant neaxt to roses to stop them being eaten by bugs?

Companion Plants are a great thing to have as you get the best of both worlds - you can what you are growing (healthily) and also another plant underneath / next to it which will prevent harm to your main grower and also look pretty for you and fill that gap !
Below is a list of Companian plants for various plants and also for roses so littlmo I hope this helps you in your rose garden.

HERB...................WHERE.................................. WHY.............
Borage - Near strawberries and tomatoes. - Attracts bees, which help to improve crop yield by pollinating plants.
Chamomile - Near sick plants. - Acts as a tonic and encourages growth.
Comfrey - Flower borders and vegetable garden. - Tap roots bring minerals to the surface of the soil.
Dill and Fennel - Amongst vegetables. - Attracts hoverflies, which then eat aphids.
Garlic and Chives - Under roses. - Keeps away aphids and black spot.
Nasturtium - Amongst vegetables. -Attracts aphids away from the vegetables. Also repels ants and whitefly.
Sage - Amongst cabbages - Repels cabbage white butterfly.
Summer Savoury -Amongst vegetables and roses - Deters blackfly.
Tagetes (African & French Marigolds) - Amongst tomatoes and vegetables -Deters aphids and whitefly through scent and by attracting hoverflies.
Roots - secrete chemicals which kill ground elder and bindwood. The root also stops eelworm from recognising their host plants, which include potatoes, tulips and roses.
Valerian - Amongst vegetables - Stimulates earthworms which helps to boost plant growth.
Wormwood, Hyssop and Rue - Vegetable gardens and flower bordersActs as insect deterrents.