Control Aphids

Aphid infestations can destroy an entire plant, and if left untreated, they can spread to surrounding plants, as well. These pests suck out plant sap, damaging leaves, stems, and flowers in the process. The honeydew they excrete as they feed can cause a sooty mold to grow, and some aphids can even spread viruses to the plants as they feed. Taming an aphid outbreak can be difficult, but a combination of biological deterrents mixed with organic oils, soaps, and sprays can often bring things under control, especially if the infestation is still in its early stages.

Steps

Biological Controls

  1. Use your fingers or a pair of garden shears to kill aphids. You may not be able to kill large infestations simply by crushing them, but killing one or two sends off a chemical signal that may warn other aphids to stay away.
  2. Snip off the infected section. If only one section of the plant is infected, snip it off with garden shears and drop it into a plastic bag or bucket of soapy water.
  3. Invite ladybugs and lacewings to your garden for dinner. Both bugs are natural predators of aphids and can help tame your aphid population. Purchase a ladybug house and commercial ladybug food to lure ladybugs to your garden, or purchase ladybugs from vendors or nurseries. Lacewings can also be lured with the same food or purchased from the save vendors.
  4. Attract more birds to your house. Chickadees and wrens are both especially useful in reducing the aphid population. Put up birdhouses and spread birdseed in your backyard.
  5. Lure ants away from the scene. Ants actually protect aphid colonies. Lure them away by placing small containers of honey below an aphid-infested plant. The honey should draw the ants away, exposing the aphids to more natural predators.
  6. Control the ant population by placing sticky bands around trees and infected plants. Sticky bands and other ant traps destroy the ants that protect aphids instead of merely drawing them away.
  7. Attract aphid predators with the right plants. Mint, fennel, dill, yarrow, clover, and dandelions are known to attract lacewings, ladybugs, and a type of insect actually called the "aphid predator." Placing these plants around the plants you wish to protect may draw predators capable of controlling the aphid population.
  8. Grow plants that drive aphids away. Garlic and onion plants are the most effective. The potent smell typically drives away most colonies of aphids.
  9. Compromise with the enemy. Grow plants that attract aphids, like asters, cosmos, larkspur, dahlias, and zinnias, but plant them away from the plants you want to protect. The aphids will be drawn to these plants and will stay away from less appetizing plants as a result.
  10. Attract a praying mantis. They find aphids great meals for them. Purchase a praying mantis or a praying mantis habitat.

Sprays

  1. Wash aphids off your plants with a standard garden hose. A steady blast of water should knock the aphids off your plants. Continue spraying the plants each day until the aphids no longer return.
  2. Spray your plants with dormant oil to destroy over-wintering eggs on your plants. Most horticultural oils are actually mineral oils, refined to remove impurities. Many vegetable oils also work well, especially cottonseed and soybean oils.
  3. Spray your plants with summer oil once you notice an aphid infestation. Use the same types of oil you might use for dormant oil.
  4. Use a homemade garlic spray on aphids. Mix crushed garlic and water together, allowing the water to become infused with the scent of garlic. This smell acts as a deterrent against aphids, driving them away.
  5. Create a home remedy to protect your plants against aphids. Mix 1 cup of vegetable or white mineral oil with 2 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of bleach-free dish soap. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spritz it on infected plants to suffocate the aphids. However, do keep the treated plants out of direct sunlight, since the spray could magnify the light and burn the leaves.
  6. Purchase an organic insecticide or insecticidal soap. These products cause the aphids' cell membranes to weaken and collapse, ultimately dehydrating them through fluid loss. Sprinkle insecticide powders or spray soaps onto both sides of each leaf on the infected plant.
  7. Try pyrethrins or pyrethroids. Pyrethrins are made from the chrysanthemum, while pyrethroids are their synthetic counter-part. Both products are organic, and both are capable of killing off aphids.



Tips

  • Inspect your plants for aphids regularly. Aphid infestations start slow and they are easier to control in their early stages than later.
  • Combining multiple methods will produce the best results. Invite natural predators while driving away protective ants, but do not be afraid to try a few oil sprays at the same time.

Warnings

  • Some plants may not tolerate oil sprays or other products well. Do a bit of research to determine whether the infected plant you wish to treat does well with certain insecticidal sprays and soaps before you treat it.

Things You'll Need

  • Ladybug food
  • Organic insecticidal sprays and soaps
  • Mineral or vegetable oil
  • Ant traps
  • Honey
  • Garden hose
  • Garden shears

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

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