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Black flies

Carol MooneyCarol Mooney Posts: 27
in Plants
I have been plagued with black flies this summer, particularly on my nasturtiums. I have been spraying them with soapy water but it hasn’t had much effect. I do not use chemicals in my garden. Can anyone recommend plants which are resistant to aphids please? These would have to be low growing for my Belfast sinks. Thanks.
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Posts

  • ChrisWMChrisWM Posts: 214
    It’s my first focused year in the garden so I’ve nothing to compare it with, but no matter what organic measures I take, they just keep on coming. Mostly greenfly. They’re persistent, for sure. 
    If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Cicero
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I also have a lot more blackfly this year, they are currently demolishing one of my dahlias but have ignored all the others.  Very little greenfly around, I like to think that I have managed a good balance with aphid eating insects, or maybe the weather has been too hot for them
  • ChrisWMChrisWM Posts: 214
    What I find odd about all this is the scarcity of ladybirds, given my garden is a ‘target rich environment ‘. I even considered buying some, but reckoned they’d just fly off elsewhere. 
    If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Cicero
  • Uncle MortUncle Mort Posts: 77
    I too have blackfly attacking one of my dahlias, I am loath to use sprays. What I would like to know is if left alone will ladybirds/lacewings move in and create a balance and can the blackfly cause lasting damage to my affected dahlia if left to there own devices.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    Parts of my blackfly affected dahlia are close to collapse, I don't use any sprays and usually squish them but there were just too many on this one plant.  No, they won't cause lasting damage, the plants will come back perfectly healthy next year, fingers crossed
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Buy some Ladybird larvae, they will decimate the Blackfly, plus they won't fly off, well not for a while anyway.
  • soulboysoulboy Posts: 429
    edited August 2018
    I have this problem every year, particularly with my dahlias and philadelphus. It has been much worse this year, which I assume is related to the good weather being good for insects.

    Although there were also a lot more ladybird larvae in the garden there was a minimal effect on blackfly infestations. That may simply be the considerable number of blackfly I have every year, or that the ladybirds eat other things or elsewhere.

    The blackfly form thick columns on the stems below the flowers and newest leaves, farmed by the ants.

    I don't have a hose in the garden so am unable to jet them away. Instead I squish many of them by hand and also use a thin barbecue stick to rub them off the stems, using the pointed end to poke them out of difficult to get to spaces under flower heads.

    It's all very time-consuming but necessary.
  • Carol MooneyCarol Mooney Posts: 27
    Thank you for your responses everyone.
  • stewyfizzstewyfizz Posts: 161
    Try putting some finely chopped Chillies in with the soapy spray. Works for me.
    Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.
  • Carol MooneyCarol Mooney Posts: 27
    Thanks Stewyfizz.
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