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Ants and black aphids

lovegardening77lovegardening77 Posts: 332
in Problem solving
please help. Yesterday I found my broad beans and dahlias covered in black aphid things and ants. I blasted them off with the hose but they're back. I don't like chemicals, what else can I do? Is it too early to feed the dahlias? I also put a load a gravel around the base of the dahlias to protect them from slugs. I could cry!
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Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It think the ants are not harming the plants, they are feeding on the honeydew of the aphids.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It's an ant farm. They line them up and protect them from predators so that they can ' milk' them.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • lovegardening77lovegardening77 Posts: 332
    B3 said:
    It's an ant farm. They line them up and protect them from predators so that they can ' milk' them.
    Yuck!!!!!! What does that mean for my beans and dahlias??
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    You need to get rid of the ants.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • lovegardening77lovegardening77 Posts: 332
    Ok, how do I go about that please
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    I made some soap spray and it seems to work on the aphids. It's not chemicals just pure soap and water.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I use that stuff that comes in cartons and looks like salt.
    Sprinkle it near the nest.
    You can't use spray insecticide if you're growing vegetables.
    Some people kill the aphids by spraying them with dilute washing up liquid. I've never tried it myself.
    If you decide to go down the aphid killing route,you will need to be vigilant in case the ants replace their stock.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    The ants will not be an issue if you continue to concentrate on removing the aphids. That may mean going out every day and removing them with a garden hose or squishing them/cleaning them off the plants. I'm afraid it's common at this time of year. I do it every day at this time of year. The ants will not be around once aphids are gone.
  • lovegardening77lovegardening77 Posts: 332
    Ok, thankyou all for your advice. Thinking of planting some marigolds too so hopefully they'll attract the predators.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I've just found blackfly clustered right in the middle of flower buds on my Carpenteria, so squishing or garden hose not very easy any idea, anyone? Does the washing up liquid method work?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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