How to Get Rid of Aphids

Aphids are tiny garden pests that feed on the sap of plants and flowers. If left unchecked, these beasties will cause discolored leaves, deformed flowers and other destruction to an otherwise well maintained garden. But luckily, these little troublemakers can be easily exterminated.

Things You'll Need

• Pesticide
• 1 or 2 gallon sprayer
• Water

Instructions

1. Determine how heavy your infestation is. Look under curled leaves and on new growth. Large numbers of pear shaped, white or green insects indicates a heavy infestation and the need for pesticide control.

2. Buy a pesticide. Several brands work well to control aphids, including Bayer Advanced, Bonide All Seasons and Bonide Bio-Neem. These products are available in spray bottle and concentrate form.

3. Mix the pesticide in the sprayer. Follow the directions on the bottle to determine the correct ration of pesticide to water.

4. Spray the infested plants. Spray the underside of the leaves, the stems and any new growth. If any other plants show signs of aphids, spray these as well.

5. Repeat if necessary. Most aphid infestations only last about a month, making repeated spraying unnecessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Getting rid of ants will also aid in ending an aphid infestation. Ants feed on the honeydew produced by aphids, and will raise them for this purpose.

• Insecticidal soaps and oils are available in sprays as well; these are better for the environment, but can be harder to apply.

• Insecticides are not recommended for light infestations of aphids, and can cause more harm than the infestation. Some pesticides will decimate the populations of helpful insects such as ladybugs and bees.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Remedies for bugs of all types.
• Insecticides and other garden needs.