Get Rid of Aphids Using Organic Methods

Any type of pest that damages your vegetable and flower plants needs to be controlled. However, there are other methods besides using harsh chemicals. Here are some alternative methods for ridding your plants of aphids, along with some info about them, as well.

Aphids are a soft, pear-shaped insect. They are very time at only 1/16 to 3/8 of an inch. They have two short tubes which protrude backward from the tip of their lower body. They also have long antennae. Some aphids have wings. They are transparent and longer then their body. The insects will hold their wings over their backs like a type of roof. This insect could be green, pink, yellowish, black, or gray. They inhabit all of North America.

Aphids will attack and feed on most fruit and vegetable plants, flowers, ornamentals, and shade trees. They suck the sap out of the plants. This can cause distorted leaves, buds, branch tips, and flowers. If they have severely infested a leaf or flower, it may drop off of the plant entirely. A sticky honeydew is secreted onto the plants as they feed. This allows mold to grow and blocks light from the leaves. Aphids can also spread viruses from plant to plant as they feed.

One of the easiest, and also organic, ways to get rid of aphids is to spray your plants with a strong spray of water. A hard rain will have the same effect. This is most effective if you have a small garden. It could be difficult to spray every plant in a large garden enough to keep the aphids off.

There are some predators of aphids. They can be attracted to your garden by planting pollen and nectar plants. Two possibilities are yarrow and sweet alyssum. Lady bugs will eat aphids from your plants. So, leave them on the leaves and stems of your plants when you see them there. They are not eating your plants. They are dining on the little buggers who are sucking the sap out of your veggies.

Aphids have some allies that you may not be aware of. Ants will guard aphid colonies in trees from predators. This can be solved simply by placing sticky bands around the trunks of the trees. This will keep the ants off of the trees and allow the predators to get rid of the aphid colonies in a perfectly safe and organic method.

You can also spray the aphids with insecticidal soap and homemade garlic sprays, both of which are organic and use no harsh chemicals. To make the garlic spray shop ten to fifteen cloves of garlic into very fine pieces. Soak the garlic in one pint of mineral oil for at least twenty-four hours. Strain the garlic out before using. You can use at full strength or dilute the solution with water. If you dilute the garlic oil, you might want to add a few drops of dishwashing liquid.

Aphids can be a serious threat to your vegetable and flower gardens, and even your trees. But, it is not necessary to use harsh chemicals to get rid of them. Hopefully, these organic methods will help you keep the aphids off of your plants so you can have wonderful gardens for you and your family to enjoy.