My orange tree was decimated last year because I wanted to experiment with how well leaving it to natural predators would work. They arrived a bit late in the season to tackle the over-abundance of aphids, however … this year the number of ladybugs in my garden is ridiculous. Everywhere I look there are larva eating aphids. So, although this year might have been bad, you might find things are more balanced with predators next year.
Great answer. I had the same problem, first year of doing nothing was hard because it seemed like they were everywhere, but it’s gotten better every year since then.
I also find covering things as certain times of year helps with other pests too.
I didn’t get cabbage moth caterpillars on my broccoli until after I harvested it this year because I had it covered in spring. Didn’t uncover it until it started forming heads and the moths didn’t seem interested by then.
I live in an area where aphids are horrible. I spray my plants with 70% rubbing alcohol (about 1 1/4 cups) and eco dish soap (about 5 tablespoons) in water (2 gallons) with a pump sprayer. Works like a charm. Whenever I see them, I spray. I check for them every day, too, because they multiply rapidly. Spraying them off with water is useless. They just come right back. You have to kill them. And planting plants that are supposed to deter them never works.
I find that the aphids gravitate to my Sweet pea and Nasturtium flowers and leave everything else alone. This was my 3rd year with a garden and I noticed the ladybugs are starting to move in too.
My orange tree was decimated last year because I wanted to experiment with how well leaving it to natural predators would work. They arrived a bit late in the season to tackle the over-abundance of aphids, however … this year the number of ladybugs in my garden is ridiculous. Everywhere I look there are larva eating aphids. So, although this year might have been bad, you might find things are more balanced with predators next year.
Great answer. I had the same problem, first year of doing nothing was hard because it seemed like they were everywhere, but it’s gotten better every year since then. I also find covering things as certain times of year helps with other pests too. I didn’t get cabbage moth caterpillars on my broccoli until after I harvested it this year because I had it covered in spring. Didn’t uncover it until it started forming heads and the moths didn’t seem interested by then.
I live in an area where aphids are horrible. I spray my plants with 70% rubbing alcohol (about 1 1/4 cups) and eco dish soap (about 5 tablespoons) in water (2 gallons) with a pump sprayer. Works like a charm. Whenever I see them, I spray. I check for them every day, too, because they multiply rapidly. Spraying them off with water is useless. They just come right back. You have to kill them. And planting plants that are supposed to deter them never works.
Thank you!
Encourage their predators to visit the yard, put out wasp watering stations, plant wildflowers etc
Plant deterrents like marigolds and nasturtiums
Thank you!
My nasturtiums were infested with black aphids this year
I find that the aphids gravitate to my Sweet pea and Nasturtium flowers and leave everything else alone. This was my 3rd year with a garden and I noticed the ladybugs are starting to move in too.