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Greenfly

kymtim22akymtim22a Posts: 3
in Problem solving
We have a beautiful mature weeping silver birch (Betulan Pendula Youngi) which over the last few years has been covered in green fly. We have tried spraying with soapy water and with a bug spray with no effect. Whilst the tree its self seems ok if a bit sticky, the green fly is spreading to other parts of the garden, particularly any new clematis. The garden itself I would class as mature with a variety of pollenating plants to encourage natural predators.     Does anyone have any tips please 

Posts

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    There are hundreds of species of greenfly in the UK and they tend to restrict themselves to a limited range of plants. It is unlikely that your birch aphids are spreading anywhere. If your birch is still flourishing just let the blue tits get stuck in and forget trying to spray them or wash them.

    When it comes to greenfly on clematis, I simply gently squish them between finger and thumb.
    Rutland, England
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    My treatment - some will disagree - is to boil some rhubarb leaves, drain off the liquid, allow to cool, place the liquid in a normal household spray and use that to spray on the greenfly (and blackfly if you get them).  As Aphids last longer than the rhubarb, it'll be a good idea to keep a top up supply for late season use.
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    If you can hang a couple of birdfeeders in your tree @kymtim22a, the birds will find your aphids and will provide some help to clear them.

    Bee x

    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • kymtim22akymtim22a Posts: 3
    Bee witched said:
    If you can hang a couple of birdfeeders in your tree @kymtim22a, the birds will find your aphids and will provide some help to clear them.

    Bee x

    Thanks for this, but there are already bird feeders in the tree, so not a solution at this  time
  • kymtim22akymtim22a Posts: 3


    nick615 said:
    My treatment - some will disagree - is to boil some rhubarb leaves, drain off the liquid, allow to cool, place the liquid in a normal household spray and use that to spray on the greenfly (and blackfly if you get them).  As Aphids last longer than the rhubarb, it'll be a good idea to keep a top up supply for late season use.
    Thanks for your response, I will give this a go and see how we get on 
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