In Poland, they are one of the most troublesome pests appearing in gardens. they attack in whole herds and appear on plants very quickly. They attack virtually everything, from raspberries, tomatoes and blueberries to rose bushes and hydrangeas. Aphids feed on plant sap, causing inhibition and growth. they stop blooming and bearing fruit. As a consequence, they may also die completely. But that’s not all. The honeydew produced by aphids also has a negative effect on plant development. It blocks photosynthesis processes and leads to inhibition of development. If aphids appear on the plants, you should react immediately.
Mix 2 tablespoons of this and spray it on the plants. Home way to quickly remove aphids
there are all kinds of spraying. You can buy ready-made mixtures available in gardening stores or prepare them yourself. Professional gardeners most often recommend a mixture of water, baking soda and gray soap to deal with aphids. Pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a large container, pour 2 liters of water and add a small amount of liquid gray soap. Mix everything thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle. On a rainless evening, spray the plants generously with this solution. Baking soda dehydrates aphids and inhibits their development. Prevents pests from multiplying and transferring. The gray soap sticks to the aphids and makes them unable to move.
This is the most effective method in the fight against aphids! Look for preparations with this ingredient
If you decide to purchase a spray for aphids, look for preparations containing acetamiprid. It is an active substance available in many chemical sprays. It is considered one of the most effective. Acetamiprid affects the nervous system of aphids by blocking the action of the neurohormone acetylcholine. As a result, the pests die quickly and stop reproducing.
Home or shop spraying? The scale of the problem is key
The choice of the appropriate aphid control method depends primarily on how advanced the invasion is. Homemade, natural sprays, such as those based on soda or garlic, work perfectly when we act preventively or when we only notice the first, small clusters of pests on individual shoots. They are an ideal solution in the initial phase because they act gently and are safe for the ecosystem.
However, when aphids have already covered the young shoots, the leaves start to curl and sticky honeydew appears on the plant, home remedies may not be enough. In such a situation, and when pests return despite regular spraying, it is worth using ready-made preparations from a garden store. Their concentrated formula allows for faster and more decisive action in the face of a mass attack.
Biological allies in the fight against aphids – ladybug larvae
An interesting and fully ecological alternative to spraying is the biological method, which involves the use of natural enemies of aphids. One of the most effective allies in this fight are ladybug larvae, which you can buy and introduce into your garden. They are extremely voracious and their main food are aphids. This is an ideal solution for people who want to avoid using any chemicals and do not have time to regularly prepare home-made mixtures.
Introducing ladybug larvae to the attacked plants allows for effective and long-term reduction of the pest population without the need to spray. This method works especially well in crops on balconies, home gardens and wherever the priority is to maintain the natural balance in the ecosystem.
How to spray correctly to make it effective? Practical tips
The effectiveness of spraying, both home-made and purchased, depends not only on the preparation itself, but also on its application technique. For the treatment to bring the expected results, you must remember several key rules. First of all, aphids are masters of camouflage – they often gather in hard-to-reach places. Therefore, spraying should be performed very carefully, covering not only the top layer with the liquid, but most of all the underside of the leavesas well as the stems and any nooks and crannies near the buds.
The time of day and weather conditions are also important. It is best to carry out the treatment on a windless, cloudy day, early in the morning or in the evening, to avoid sunburn of the leaves. The optimal temperature is below 25°C. Before you use the preparation on the entire plant, it is worth conducting a test on one leaf to make sure that the agent will not harm it. After successful treatment, dead aphids can be washed off the plant with a gentle stream of water.
