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Aphids
Keith Butler2
Posts: 53
Hi,
I have a new blank sheet garden and last year I had Aphids and Greenfly every where, I have got rid of most of the plants and starting from scratch, I have 4 Thistles I grew from seed in 4" pots which are on the window sill in my garage, I have just noticed these have lots of Aphids coming to life on them, if I spray these with insecticide will it effect the compost and eventually kill the plants?
Last edited: 14 March 2017 15:18:48
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I killed aphids last year with a solution of washing up liquid. They detergent breaks down essential waxes. I had a generous dose of washing up liquid, made it up with water, then sprayed it on and waited a few days. Problem solved.
The problem with any insecticide or washing up liquid solution is that it is indiscriminate and kills beneficial insects too. If you can, just squish the majority of them with your fingers and squirt the rest with a hosepipe.
I found, in my last garden, that if I fed the birds all year round the sparrow and tits would hoover up aphids to feed to their young chicks - essential source of moisture till hey can fly the nest and drink - and then ladybirds and hoverfly would arrive and take care of the rest. No sprays.
Just need to be patient while nature gets the balance of predator and prey sorted and, if you can, keep your plants well ventilated and separated to reduce infestations in confined spaces.
I gave up on washing up liquid and other such stuff a few years ago. Now I just use my fingers, a paint brush or a jet of water ... but usually the blue tit families hoover them all up in the spring, and the ladybirds and hoverflies deal with them in the summer.
You have to give nature a chance to establish a balance.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Oh, snap Obelixx ... didn't see you there!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi,
I have a problem with the birds at the moment, we have a dog that loves chasing them and we are close to open fields with trees where they seem to find lots of food and we do not see them for Months, I did try washing up liquid last year and got suicidal with the little blighters, I do have the advantage of the plants being in pots at the moment so I could spray them and keep them indoors till they are clean. I did try doing it manually but broke leaves, what insecticide could any one suggest?
Have you tried a jet of water from the hose? Or a soft paintbrush (half inch gloss is good as long as it's clean),if you find using fingers too cumbersome.
I make sure I leave a few aphids - I don't get rid of them all - to make sure that there's some food for the birds and good insects - we can't hope to establish a balance if there's nothing there to attract the predators
Last edited: 14 March 2017 17:41:35
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm with Obelixx and the others here. If you can get a balance by encouraging birds in, they'll do most of the work for you. Surely the dog isn't out in the garden all the time?
A few hanging feeders will get these in - they love aphids
Any big infestation - usually early in the spring when you get a lot of fresh new growth on perennials - can be washed off as described, with water on it's own, or with a tiny bit of washing up liquid in it. An old washing up bottle when it's empty is ideal for the job. Then you can let nature help you.
It takes a little while to get a balance Keith - but it's worth doing.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Two dogs here and no problems with feeding birds.