Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

While a bit of a nuisance, aphid problem is relatively easy to deal with, as long as you persevere and take safe measures to get rid of them. These mollusks draw sap from the leaves with their sharp mouths. You can catch the clustered aphids by hand, prune some parts of the plant, or use homemade organic aphid sprays for a more lasting effect. Once you are done with the aphids, add some plants and beneficial insects to your garden to keep away any pests that might be waiting for revenge.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Identify aphids

1. 

   Learn to recognize aphids visually. These tiny insects have round bodies, have 2 antennae, and near the tail 2 tassels grow on either side of the body. Depending on the species, aphids can be white, black, gray, green, yellow, or even pink. On a close look, some aphids look like they are covered with a cotton-like sponge.
   • Plant aphids come in both wingless and flightless types, making them even more troublesome to control. Some species of aphids will grow wings when the local food supply decreases and fly away in search of a more abundant food.
   • Plant aphids are a common pest throughout all parts of the earth and can infect almost any type of agricultural plant, tree, shrub or flower tree.

2. 

   
   
   Look for the underside of leaves for aphids. Turn the leaf over and look closely to catch the aphids. Although aphids are small, you can see them with the naked eye. There is no evidence that aphid infestation is more relevant than seeing them with your own eyes.
   • Although they like to eat the fresh leaves of fruits and vegetables, aphids don't criticize anything they can find.
   • Even a small amount of aphids can cause major problems for farmers and gardeners.

3. 

   
   
   Pay attention to leaves that curl or discolor. Be careful every time the tree becomes lodged for unknown reasons. Over time, hungry aphids can infect plants or make healthy plants weak and look sullen.
   • Besides the obvious symptoms, you can see small bites along the leaf margins or veins.
   • Plant aphids usually thrive in the warm summer months.

4. 

   
   
   Look for sweeteners to see where the aphids are. When siphoning sap from healthy plants, aphids secrete a sticky substance called "sweet juice." If the leaves are unusually shiny or look like they are covered with mucus, the aphid is most likely nearby.
   • The sweetener can turn dark brown or black as mold starts to appear.
   • Spraying plants from time to time using a garden hose to not only repel bed bugs, but also wash away the traces they leave behind.

5. 

   Keep an eye on plant nodules. Every two weeks, examine your garden plants from the tops of the plants to the roots for nodules. These are abnormal growths or bumps on the surface of the infected plants. Most nodules form due to the irritation of insects such as aphids when they suck up sap and lay eggs.
   • The nodules can be accompanied by a marked discoloration, making them look like lumps or moldy spots.
   • If left untreated, the nodules can make the plant more susceptible to serious diseases.
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Method 2 of 4: Manually catch plant aphids

1. 

   Catch aphids by hand if the number is small. You can catch aphids that crawl on leaves and crush them. Aphids have soft stems, so you can easily finish them off by squeezing between two fingers. If there are about a dozen bed bugs, it may be easier to sweep them off with a damp paper towel.
   • Always wear gloves when handling aphids by hand to protect the skin from irritation.
   • Although aphids often move and feed in groups, they sometimes appear individually.

2. 

   Spray the infested leaves with a garden hose. A single splash of water is enough to dislodge stubborn insects. Direct the spray of water to the underside of the leaves, where aphids often gather. Spray the plants 1-2 times a day with water until the aphid population subsides.
   • Do not use high pressure to avoid damaging the plant, and try not to over water it.
   • Regular spraying is the most effective way to deal with low to moderate infestation of aphid on already strong and healthy plants.
   • Allow the leaves to dry completely between watering. Wet foliage increases the risk of diseases such as blight and rust in moisture-sensitive plants.

3. 

   Prune plants to remove large aphids. You need to remove any parts of the plant that are seriously infected with aphids. Cut off fruit or leaves, cut off branches, and even cut off all large branches. Check back to make sure you have not left aphids on other parts of the plant.
   • After pruning infested plants, spray them thoroughly with water or a homemade anti-aphid solution, such as those listed in this article.
   • Removal of aphid infested part is most effective in cases where the aphids gather in a certain area of ​​the plant.
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Method 3 of 4: Use insecticide and aphid repellent solution

1. 

   Make a soap solution. Dissolve 2-3 teaspoons (10-15 ml) of mild dish soap in a cup of warm water in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray a large amount of the solution on plants showing signs of aphid activity. Surfactants in soap will dry out the insect without affecting the plant.
   • To increase the effect, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the solution.
   • Place the spray in your garage or garden shed for easy use when needed.
   • This solution also kills beneficial insects, so be selective when spraying the solution on the plant. Wash the spray bottle with clean water after each use to prevent the nozzle from clogging.

2. 

   Try mixing essential oils. Put 4-5 drops of rosemary, clove, cedar, orange or peppermint essential oil (or mix each your own way) into a water-filled spray bottle. Spray the solution on plants infested with aphids from foliage to roots.Plant aphids are inherently afraid of essential oils, so those that do not die from the solution will also rush away.
   • Essential oils are not only very safe, but also have a pleasant fragrance to help repel insects.
   • Always dilute the essential oil mixes, as essential oils left on the leaves can burn the plant. Set aside a spray bottle for this, as the essential oils will soak into the bottle.

3. 

   Buy a bottle of neem oil. Neem oil is a vegetable oil compound that is very helpful in controlling aphids. You can buy neem oil in its pure form and dilute it with water to make a 2% solution and spray it in places with harmful insects. This sweet oil will suffocate the bed bugs for several hours.
   • Neem oil is available at major garden supply stores. This product is non-toxic and decomposes quickly when exposed to air, so it will not be harmful to plants and humans.
   • Neem oil is also effective against other common pests such as aphids, beetles and moths. However, neem oil also kills beneficial insects while killing them, so be careful when using it.

4. 

   Spray your plants with insecticidal soap. Similar to neem oil and other natural insecticides, insecticidal soap works to kill aphids by asphyxiating them. These products are available at most homes, nurseries and garden tool stores. This product is usually premixed, meaning you don't have to worry about counting.
   • Insecticidal soap can be toxic to some plants, so be sure to read the directions on the package carefully before spraying them on your garden plants.

5. 

   The last resort is to use commercial pesticides. You may need to use a stronger insecticide if all of the above methods are ineffective or have to deal with a widespread infection. Look for products that are certified to be effective against aphids. Some insecticides are in handy sprayers, others need to be mixed and poured into chemical sprays when using.
   • Note that chemical insecticides can harm plants and useful predators. You should always follow the directions on the product label and never exceed the recommended dosage.
   • The US National Sustainable Agriculture Media Network (ATTRA) has compiled data on low-hazard pesticides that may be useful to farmers and gardeners, including biopharmaceuticals. learn.
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Method 4 of 4: Prevent aphid outbreak

1. 

   Bring beneficial insects into the garden. Ladybugs, bee flies and ligaments are a few of the insects that hunt aphids. When brought into the garden, they will reduce the number and destroy pests, and restore order in areas damaged by infestation.
   • You can usually buy eggs, larvae, and adults of predators at garden shops.
   • Ladybugs and beetles can also become a nuisance. When using insects to kill insects, you should only bring in a small quantity and remember to keep an eye on them, lest you kill one species, you must continue to deal with another species.

2. 

   Choose plants that will attract ladybugs. Make room to grow the insect's favorite crops like geranium, snowball, sunflower, Queen Anne's Lace, and parsley. This way, you can attract ladybugs into your garden without having to spend the effort of buying, releasing and tracking them.
   • Think carefully before pulling out all the weeds. Some of the weeds left scattered in the garden add diversity to the garden, and wild plants like dandelion or crustacean grass may attract some ladybugs.
   • Provide a source of water, such as a sprinkler system, small fountains or bird feeder, to meet ladybug needs. Place small stones in the center of the water so they have room to crawl and avoid drowning.

3. 

   Make use of fragrant plants to repel bed bugs. Plant onions such as onions, garlic, and some fragrant plants like ginger, marjoram and sage plants around plants where aphids often congregate. The strong scent of these plants scares the insects and will eventually leave.
   • If you want a quicker solution, you can also chop up onions and spread them around your garden instead of spending time growing.

4. 

   Kill all the ant nests found. Wipe out unwanted colonies with commercial ants and destroy the nest to prevent them from coming back. Ants often attack many insect species that kill aphids, meaning that the more ants there are, the longer the aphid problem is resolved.
   • Ants also protect and care for plant aphids to use their sweeteners as a food source.
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Advice

• Check garden plants regularly to make sure expelled aphids don't return.
• Some species of plants such as the lotus, chrysanthemum, and marigold have properties that attract aphids. If you are still interested in growing these plants in your garden, keep them away from plants that you do not want the aphids to get close to.

Warning

• Avoid chemical pesticides to deal with aphid infestation. These products not only kill plant aphids, but also kill both natural predator insects and plant pollinators, making the problem even more serious.

What you need

• Garden gloves
• Pruning scissors
• Garden hose
• Country
• Mild liquid soap
• Neem oil or rubbing alcohol (optional)
• The beneficial insects
• Onions, herbs and other aromatic plants
• Ant sprays
• Aerosol