How to Naturally Get Rid of Aphids

Orange Aphid

Aphids are tiny insects that come in a wide range of colors, from yellow to green to red. These little guys are trouble for any gardener, because they can breed and spread quickly, causing a rash of damage to plants and trees alike. Aphids feed on the greens of plants by piercing holes in them and sucking out their juices. This begins to eat away at the whole plant and cause yellowing and disease. The battle against aphids is a tough one, but as long as you stick it out you will be able to get rid of them, even without resorting to poisonous pesticides.

Things You'll Need

• Diatomaceous earth Soap Water Spray bottle Neem oil Garden clippers

Instructions

1. Go around your garden and look for plants, specifically certain parts, that contain large amounts of aphids. Cut them off and dispose of them immediately. This will get rid of a big chunk of the aphids in your yard.

2. Take an empty spray bottle and fill it three-fourths of the way with lukewarm tap water. This is the base for an excellent homemade aphid killer and repellent.

3. Add in some non-toxic, natural liquid soap. You don't need to much, but just enough to cause the solution to foam up when shaken. The soap will poison aphids on contact.

4. Add 1 tsp. of neem oil. This is extracted from evergreen plants and acts as a natural aphid repellent. It does not, however, repel beneficial insects. Spray this substance in your garden. It will act as both a fertilizer that specifically targets aphids and also as a repellent to keep aphids away in the future.

5. Spread some diatomaceous earth around in your garden. This is a great natural treatment that will cut into the exoskeletons of aphids and other pests and dehydrate them until they are dead.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping your garden free of aphids requires constant lookout for the insects. Even after you have gotten rid of them, new batches can appear.