Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Using household products
• Method 2 of 3: Using natural enemies and traps
• Method 3 of 3: Using sprays
• Tips
• Warnings

Aphids like to eat fruits, vegetables, flowers and other plant species, making it difficult to maintain a beautiful garden. These tiny, pear-shaped insects gather on the shady side of leaves and come in many different colors. To combat these pesky pests, lure "good bugs" like ladybugs into your yard or try to reduce the amount of ants. There are many different sprays with ingredients such as garlic that can control aphids. If you want a quick fix, spray the aphids with a strong jet of water from your plants or sprinkle flour on the affected plants.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Using household products

1. Spray a strong jet of water on the plants. Use a garden hose to spray the plants affected by aphids with cold water. The aphids should fall off the plants. A heavy rain shower can also wash the aphids off the plants.
   • It is important that the water comes out of the garden hose with some pressure, but be careful not to damage the plants by setting the water pressure too high.
   • Repeat the process if necessary to flush out any aphids you see popping up.
2. Remove the aphids from the plants with your hands. If you see a cluster of aphids on a plant, you can wipe them off with your fingers. Drop the aphids you wipe off your plants into a bucket of soapy water to kill them.
   • If the aphids have affected a leaf or stem, cut that part of the plant with scissors or pruning shears and drop it into the bucket of soapy water.
   • Wear gloves to protect your hands.
3. Sprinkle flour on the plants to control an aphid infestation. Take 120 grams of flour from your pantry or kitchen and take it to the garden. Using your hands, sprinkle an even layer of flour on the plants affected by aphids, covering them with a thin layer of flour.
   • There is no need to cover the entire plant with flower. Only treat the areas where aphids have collected.
   • The aphids will become constipated when they eat the flower.
4. Wipe the plants with a mixture of water and mild soap. Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with 250 ml of water. Dip a cloth or paper towel in the mixture and gently wipe the stem and leaves of the aphid-infested plant.
   • Make sure to take the leaves off both sides.

Method 2 of 3: Using natural enemies and traps

1. Attract good insects to your garden to eat the aphids. Growing herbs like mint, dill and clover will attract ladybugs and lacewings. Both insects are known to eat aphids, which helps reduce the number of aphids that feed on your plants.
   • If you prefer, you can also buy ladybugs and lacewings from a garden center and release them in your garden.
2. Attract insectivorous birds to your yard to solve the problem. Wren and various tit species can all come in handy for eating the aphids. To encourage these birds to move into your yard, plant shrubs with dense foliage and small trees that are perfect for nesting. You can also hang a bird feeder to help attract birds to your yard.
   • Hang up small birdhouses for the birds to live in as an alternative to planting shrubs and trees.
3. Prevent ants from helping the aphids. Ants and aphids help each other because aphids provide food for ants. If you see an ant colony or a large number of ants near your aphid infested plants, try to get rid of the ants by wrapping some adhesive tape around a tree or using some other type of ant trap.
   • Ants and aphids have a symbiotic relationship. The ants protect the aphids from their natural enemies, and the aphids produce a sugary liquid that the ants eat.
   • You can also use vinegar, lemon juice, and cinnamon to keep the ants from getting too close to your plants.
4. Buy sticky traps to catch the aphids. These yellow traps catch aphids using their sticky surface. Hang the traps on a branch or place them next to your plants. You can buy adhesive traps at garden centers, hardware stores and on the internet.
5. Use plants that aphids love to lure them away from other plants. Grow plants that attract aphids like asters and cosmeas and plant them away from the plants you want to protect. The aphids will be attracted to these plants and therefore stay away from the plants they do not like.
   • Aphids also like dahlias, delphiniums and zinnias. These bait plants are actually sacrificed to the aphids in your garden. The aphids will target these plants, so don't get too attached to them.
   • If you don't control the aphids, more will come. They will eventually affect other plants as well. You will still need to control the number of aphids on the bait plants.
   • How far away you plant the bait plants depends on the plant species and how much space the plant needs. Start with a distance of at least two feet.

Method 3 of 3: Using sprays

1. Mix essential oils to use on the plants. Mix 4-5 drops of peppermint oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil and clove oil in a bowl or cup. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle with water in it and then shake to mix the ingredients. Spray the oil and water mixture on the plants that the aphids feed on.
   • Always use the same atomizer to spray essential oils on plants. The oils soak into the plastic and give it a scent, making the atomizer less suitable for later use for other purposes.
2. Make your own garlic spray to spray on the aphids. Do this by finely chopping 3-4 cloves of garlic and mixing them with 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of mineral oil. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours and then strain out the pieces of garlic. Pour the garlic mixture into a spray bottle with 500 ml tap water and 5 ml dish soap, then spray it on the plants.
   • You can also make a tomato leaf spray to use on the plants.
3. Spray neem oil on the plants affected by aphids. Mixing neem oil with a little water gives you an organic blend that helps repel aphids. Pour the water and neem oil into a spray bottle and spray the mixture on the areas of your plants affected by aphids.
   • You can buy neem oil at garden centers, some department stores, and on the Internet. Know that the scent of neem oil will linger for a long time in the spray bottle you are using. It is best to use the same atomizer over and over to put the neem oil in.
   • You can also spray horticultural oil on the plants.
4. Use an insecticide soap to help control the aphids. You can buy such soap at a garden center or on the internet. Read the directions on the package to find out how much soap to mix with water before spraying the mixture on the plants to control the aphids.
   • Such a soap is specially formulated to kill aphids.
   • Insecticide soap is less toxic to mammals (humans and pets) than chemical insecticides. Nevertheless, follow the directions on the packaging regarding safety and the clothing and protective equipment you must wear when using the product.

Tips

• Make sure to check your plants regularly for aphids. An aphid infestation starts gradually and is easier to control at the initial stage than at a later stage.
• By combining multiple methods you will get the best result. Lure the aphids' natural enemies into your garden and also repel the ants that protect the aphids, but don't shy away from using a few sprays of oil at the same time.
• It is easier and more practical to deal with pests such as aphids before an infestation develops. It takes time and patience to deal with a major infestation, and you will need to use multiple control methods.
• Only use chemical pesticides as a last resort to control aphids. You can easily tackle aphids with less toxic agents.

Warnings

• Do not spray insecticides during the hottest part of the day when the sun is at its strongest. Your plants can then burn. Use these products in the evening or early in the morning when it is cooler.
• Some plants do not tolerate sprays with oil and other products. Look up some information beforehand to see if the affected plant you want to treat responds well to certain insect control sprays and soaps.