Aphids are small sucking insects and you will mostly find them on the houseplants. These are colorful insects, which can be found in red, black or pink color. The manifestations of the aphids tend to increase quickly and these insects are highly mobile. They can quickly travel from one plant to another. At the outdoor gardens, you can find the aphid colonies will be tended by the plants, which feed on the aphid honeydew. You must know how to control aphids to stop their quick growth.
They cluster around the new growth, making the foliage crinkled and they are clearly visible on the stems. Here are some simple tips on how to control aphids.
Things Required:
- Spray bottles
- Coreopsis plants
- Dill seeds
- Garden hoses
- Horticulture oils
- Ladybugs
- Pesticides
- Spring flowering bulbs
- Fennel seeds
- Insecticidal soaps
Steps:
- First, you will have to check for aphids below the leaves and on the new growth. You will see some discoloration on the leaves, mostly of yellow color. This problem will start happening in early spring or summer months. Remember that you will always see aphids in huge colonies, which are known as infestations.
- You can spray a strong jet of water directly inside the plants affected areas. This stream will help in washing off all the insects. This is one of the easiest ways to control aphids.
- Add some soap or oil in the water and then spray it, because water alone will not work that effectively. Take a tablespoon of insecticidal soap along with half tablespoon of horticultural oil in one quart of water inside the spray bottle. You will find only two kinds of chemicals in the market for aphids.
- If you notice that there is a serious infestation of aphids, then you can try ladybugs. You must place a new purchased bag of ladybugs inside the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator when you go outside to water your garden. You must release them during the evening time for protecting them from birds.
- Use garden hose to blast water in full power on the plants for washing away the aphids and the sticky stuff from the leaves. Make sure that you water your plants on a regular basis; if not then the plants will become week and attract more aphids. Prune away all the aphid affected area, without you destroying the plants.
- You can make some aphid homemade natural nontoxic insecticide. Take one glass or a bowl, and put one clove of diced garlic and add three cups of water in it. Place a lid over container and allow it to stand for minimum eight hours. If you want then you can refrigerate it. Once the water gets a chance to infuse with the garlic water, drain out the garlic and remove it. If you allow the garlic to be in the water, it will decompose soon and leave a bad odor. Put this garlic water inside a spray bottle and spray it on the aphid infestation. Make sure you spray it under the leaves as well. This will kill all the aphids and will act like a repellent.
- You can try getting some other predatory insects, which will consume all the aphids by planting some brightly colored plants next to aphid prone area, like coreopsis, dill or fennel.
- For a preventive measure, you must spray it during the winter season to avoid recurring infestation.
Tips and Warnings:
- As the first step, you must always use the least non-toxic method for pest control.
- Make sure that you water your garden before you release ladybugs. They will get thirsty from travel and will eat aphids once they have had a refreshing drink.
- You must choose and plant only those plants, which are naturally resistant to aphids. These include plants, like milky sap with thick and fuzzy leaves. The plant type will vary depending in the area you live.
- Always remember that plants native to your area will be naturally resistant to all the insect attack.
- Humming birds eat aphids too! You must encourage them to come in your garden by keeping a feeder, which is always full and clean.
- If you are going to use pesticides in your garden, you will automatically kill all the natural predators of aphids, like lacewings and ladybugs.
- If you select a chemical control, make sure that you always wear a safety gear and protective clothing, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, goggles and a respirator.
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