Philadelphus Aureus black substance around branches - ants eggs?

Posts

• cammy0102 Posts: 49

  May 2023

  nutcutlet said:

  or you could hang a bird feeder over it and the Bluetit will love them. They need juicy stuff to feed the babies at this time of year

  Yeah might try that. Hope that won't attract blackbirds - I hate them. They dig our lawn!

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• cammy0102 Posts: 49

  May 2023

  debs64 said:

  Philadelphus are very prone to black aphids in my experience. Pray for ladybirds 🐞 

  Is there a way to attract them?

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• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  May 2023 edited May 2023

  I doubt it's blackbirds that are digging your lawn - more likely to be jackdaws/crows or starlings. They're usually in among planted areas.
  I never really get aphids on philadelphus - blue tits etc eat them probably. If there's the odd one or two I wipe them off if the birds are busy elsewhere, but it's rarely a problem. I'm sure they get them when I'm doing something else. 
  
  Getting a balance in a garden takes time - many years. A wide range of plants and habitats helps. Wildlife will then move in and regularly help with things like aphids.

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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