WITH warmer weather on the horizon, intrepid gardeners might be struggling with the infestation of bugs it could bring.
As aphids (greenfly or blackfly) threaten to damage your garden, there is a 5p hack that gardeners swear by to tackle the problem.
Aphid infestations could spread viruses and cause plants to die[/caption]
There is a quick and easy 5p solution to the problem[/caption]
The UK is home to nearly 500 species of aphids – a tiny sap-sucking bug that visits during the warmer months.
These hungry bugs vary in colour from green and black to include yellow, brown, and orange – ranging in size from one to seven millimetres long.
While they are particularly prevalent in the summer, they can survive year round in warmer environments like greenhouses and conservatories.
Different species are drawn to different plants meaning if you have one infestation, it might not spread to the rest of your plants.
Having small numbers of aphids is not necessarily a bad thing – they are a vital part of the ecosystem – however large numbers of the bug could weaken and prevent growth in younger plants.
Weakened plants might need to be destroyed if infected with a virus – shown by mottled, streaked or distorted foliage, and weak growth – to prevent it spreading.
It can also cause wider problems with the ‘honeydew’ they leave behind.
This sticky substance can become infested with black mould, preventing the plant from photosynthesising and restricting its growth.
Gardeners are advised to regularly check their plants for aphids, particularly under the leaves, and for signs of honeydew.
Predators like birds might help tackle a small infestation, or hand-squashing might be a cheap solution.
However, some gardeners swear by a cheap and easy alternative to get rid of the pests – dishwasher liquid.
Green thumbs can mix their dishwasher liquid with water before spraying it onto the plants.
This homemade alternative provides a cheap way to get rid of the infestation, without the need for harmful insecticides.
Gardeners are encouraged to use eco detergents and a very weak solution to prevent wider ecological damage.
If you don’t want to make a spray at home, you can also buy organic, chemical-fee sprays which are made with plant extracts, plant oils and soft soap.
These have fewer harmful consequences for the wider environment.
To use these sprays, aim directly at the aphids and re-apply somewhat frequently.
Those looking for a more immediate solution might turn to insecticide, but it is important to bear in mind that this risks killing other insects that could help with plant growth.
If bees and butterflies access the insecticide through the flowers, it could kill them as well as the targeted aphids.
Insecticide run off could also enter the soil which risks harming bugs and further disrupting your garden’s ecosystem.
According to Gardeners World: “We recommend letting nature take its course: let birds, ladybirds and hoverflies control aphids unless there is a huge infestation and then remove them by hand or with an organic spray.
“There should be no need to ever use chemical insecticides in the garden.”
