Aphids are one pest that seam to show up in every garden at one point or another. Aphids are soft-bodied, small insects that survive in almost any climate zone. They also multiply quickly, and this is why it’s so important to get rid of them and get the infestation under control before they start reproducing.
Several generations of aphids can occur in a single season, and they can wreak havoc on your garden. The good news is that they’re a slower insect, and this slow speed makes controlling them relatively easy.
Six Ways to Get Rid of Aphids
Once you notice aphids in your garden, you have several ways to get rid of them. Start with one and see the results. If they’re still there, retreat the garden or move on to the next method.
Cold Water
Take your hose and give the plant’s leaves a good blast of cold water. Since aphids are slow, this is usually enough to dislodge them from your plants. They usually can’t find their way back to the same plant. Spray the cold water in the early morning hours and check your garden in the afternoon. Repeat as necessary.
Flour
If your aphid invasion is already out of control, dust all of your plants with a light coating of flour. If the aphids eat the flour, it can cause constipation. Make sure all sides of each leave have a coating on them and reapply it if the leaves get wet and the flour washes away.
Dish Soap and Water
One cost-effective way to get rid of aphids is to spray or wipe the plant’s leaves with a mixture of water and dish soap. You can use two cups of water with a few drops of dish soap to create a mild solution. Once you start applying it, reapply it every two or three days for two weeks.
Cayenne Pepper
There is a variation to the dish soap and water method where you add one quart of water with one teaspoon of dish soap and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Shake this mixture well and spray it on the leaves of your plants once every two or three days for two weeks. It should scare the aphids off.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Diatomaceous Earth is a non-toxic organic material that works to kill the aphids in your garden on contact. However, you want to make sure you don’t apply it when your plants are blooming, and DE is harmful to any pollinators that come into contact with it.
Neem Oil
Neem is an essential oil that has powerful insecticide properties, but it’s not strong enough to kill the plants themselves. Dilute a few drops of the essential oil in a spray bottle with two or three cups of water. Spray this mixture on your plants every few days until you don’t see any aphids.
Contact Evergreen Landscaping
Do you need help with aphids in your garden? Maybe you’d like to set up your first garden, and you’re not sure which plants to choose, how to keep it healthy, or where to put it. If so, contact our talented team today.