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Need aphid control

TropicalDreamTropicalDream Posts: 29
in Problem solving

My clematis and dahlia are smothered with aphids that I really want to get rid off. 

Last year, I left it for nature to control this but aphids beat nature hands down. The birds and lady birds etc had plenty of food choices so no one cared about eating my aphids.

So, can anyone suggest anything other than water spray, and removal by hand? I've just done a soapy water spray but I don't see any immediate results.

I don't want to use expensive or harsh chemicals, that's a last resort. 

Thanks

Posts

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    I've always found a high pressure hose pipe does the best work to remove the majority of the greenfly on my plants, you have to be careful that when you're spraying the underside of the leaves that you don't accidentally water the neighbours

  • TropicalDreamTropicalDream Posts: 29

    Maybe I'll give that a try but doesn't that blast all the tender buds and slim branches into outer space as well? 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I have a Hozelock multi-spray gun

    One of the settings produces a really fine mist but at quite a pressure.

    I hold my hand flat behind the dahlia head to give support and spray from the front so the delicate flower head is against my hand and blast away - the blackfly are obliterated

    I find that once removed they don't tend to return to the same bud


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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