Pests in the Garden: Aphids

Hello readers,

In this series I'm going to break down the basics of garden pests, what to look for, what climate attracts them and methods of getting rid of them. Today's topic: Aphids. These pests are known to be plant suckers that feed on juices of plants with their piercing beaks, causing plants to shrivel or mutate during their growth period.

At what temperatures do they emerge?

• Because adult aphids lay their eggs between August and October, Aphids can live at temps of 30 degrees and sometimes overwinter

  • But about 80% die over winter season, the survivors hibernate til spring

• Aphids hatch once temps hit 45 degrees and up

• They like hot and dry temperatures. So, during a drought thirsty plants are at high risk with heightened levels of nitrogen - exactly what the aphids like best

  • SO I should’ve watered the plants more this summer… but we live and we learn. Gardening is all about trial and error

How to avoid them?

• Check plants frequently

• Companion planting of garlic, yarrow, dill, fennel, thyme, mint will draw them away from your prized roses

• Avoid over fertilizing

  • Rapid overgrowth attracts aphids

How to ID damage?

• Curled, shriveled, wilted, discolored leaves

• Stunted/mishappen foliage growth

• Buds/blooms are less vigorous, deformed, distorted

• Flower buds are falling off plant

• Black, sooty mold found on leaves, buds or stems

  • Grows on aphid secretions

How to Look for aphids?

• Aphids come in 4 different colors: red, black, green and yellow.

• Look underside of leaves

• Use a lighter under leaf to heat it up and see if the aphid is alive or dead

• Ants or Black fly arrive. They’re attracted to aphids' 'sweet' secretions

How to get rid of them?

• Spray water/soap mix every 2-3 days

  • Not Dawn, something lighter like ‘Ivory’ soap

  • If insecticidal soap, use every 5-7 days

    • Works on aphids, mealy bugs, thrips, scale, spider mites

• Neem Oil (but not during summer months, it'll burn your foliage)

• Predators

  • Lady bugs

  • Green Lacewing

  • Birds