How to Get Pesty Aphids Out of Your Garden, for Good!

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By RA Cologna
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Aphids can be controlled naturally.

If your garden is your home's special space of natural beauty, keep it from an invasion of pesty aphids! Aphids multiply in hot, humid weather, but natural methods of getting rid of them are available!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

aphids
garden
plants
lawn
ladybugs
parastic wasps
insecticidal soaps
aluminum foil
anti-aphid solution for extreme aphid situations

Step 1

Aphids are tiny, slow-moving, soft-bodied insects that come in a variety of colors and feed on your plants by sucking their fluids. If you suspect you have aphids in your garden or houseplants, first understand that aphids multiply rapidly so you must act fast!
Step 2

Take comfort in knowing that if your plants are healthy and well nourished, they should survive a brief infestation of aphids. But don't overfeed your plants to compensate, or the aphids will go all-out-buffet and might just increase on those host plants!
Step 3

Give your garden or plants two or three vigorous hosings with your garden hose to combat a mild infestation of aphids.
Step 4

Buy laybugs or parasitic wasps from an online plant nursery or insect supplier. They will arrive in a mesh bag and mailer, and you can then deposit these helpful assistants onto the plants where the aphids have taken up residence. Our friends, ladybugs and wasps, will eat them for a long-term solution on outdoor gardens!
Step 5

For a severe infestation of aphids, however, spray with an insecticidal soap for indoor plants or an anti-aphid application for outdoors. Check the label of the product and follow directions exactly.
Step 6

For indoor plants, it is helpful to cover the bases of the plant pots with aluminum foil, which discourages aphids!