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Is a beautiful garden your dream, but pests are ruining your plants? Are you wondering how to get rid of aphids? Take a look at those five simple methods that will help you fight them. Try home remedies for aphids and see that they can be as effective as store-bought chemicals. Learn how to kill aphids with home-made solutions and restore the beauty of your precious garden.
What are aphids and why are they harmful?
Aphids are quite common and very irksome pests. They can be found in floral and vegetable gardens, or even on balcony plants. It is easy to recognize them, as they form swarms. Depending on the species, you can find black, green and yellow aphids, or the rarest ones – orange.
Aphids are a serious threat for garden plants, as they suck their juices. They also pollute them with their excretion, and might spread dangerous viruses. For this reason it is important to act immediately and use home remedies as soon as the pests appear in the garden.
Wondering how to get rid of aphids?
Have you noticed a lot of aphids in your garden, and are looking for a way to get rid of these pests? You have many options to choose from. There are many home remedies which are extremely safe for plants - especially the fragile ones. They are based on natural ingredients, and despite that, they are very effective. You can try them as your first resort when fighting the insects. If they don’t work - only then try chemical products.
Prevention might be an essential rule to remember in the future. Learn about it in the following sections. By planting certain plant species, you can prevent aphids invasion in your garden.
Get some plants that repel them
A good neighborhood for the plants in your garden affects their proper growth and general health. Ecological agriculture has been gaining popularity. It mainly involves using neighboring plants, so that they have a positive influence on each other. Home remedies for aphids also engage using plants that are disliked by those tiny insects.
The best remedy for aphids in your vegetable garden is planting garlic and onion, which repel the pests. A coordinate cultivation is a highly effective method – it involves planting vegetables along with aphid-repellent plants. Therefore, when planting vegetables that are liked by aphids, combine them with plants that repel those insects.
As for a floral garden, it is a good idea to use lavender. It is a perfect aphid remedy, as it repels the pests with its strong scent. Another universal method is planting some anti-insect herbs. The best herb for aphids is mint, which can be planted both in vegetable and floral garden.
You can also plant mint in a pot by other plants to repel aphids invading your balcony flowers.
How to kill aphids with plant extracts and brews?
Planting aphid repellent plants is not the only way to use them in your fight with those insects. You can also prepare highly effective natural extracts and brews.
Onion extract is a perfect aphid home remedy. Onions can be typically found in every kitchen, and it is not difficult to turn them into brew. All you need is:
- onions,
- water,
- a large pot.
Cut the onions (max. 100 g) into pieces, add approximately 10 liters of water and boil it on low heat for 30 minutes. After another 30 minutes the brew is ready to use.
Onion extract is effective not only against aphids, but also it is a perfect remedy for fungal plant diseases.
A garlic extract is another, equally effective home remedy to get rid of aphids. To prepare this natural solution, grind 200-300 g of garlic. Add 10 liters of water and leave it for 24 hours. Dilute the extract with water in 1:1 proportion – it is ready to use.
You can keep the home aphid solution maximally for 2 months. Remember to keep it in an air-tight container and put it in a dark spot. You cannot overdose such solutions, so you can use large quantities when spraying the plants.
Ecological spraying – a proven method to get rid of aphids
The best way to get rid of aphids is ecological garden spraying. Natural, home-made solutions can help you remove the pests quickly and effectively, without the risk of harming plants, garden shrubs and even balcony flowers. Ecological spraying is perfect for gardens with children, as it is safe for human health.
How to kill aphids with vinegar?
Vinegar spraying is the most popular method to fight with aphids. To make a vinegar solution, mix it with water in 1:10 proportion.
When preparing the solution, always pour vinegar into water – not vice versa, as it can cause adverse chemical reactions, harmful for health.
Optionally you can add a spoon of soap or a few drops of dish detergent. This way the solution will stick better to the plants. Soap also makes it last longer. After preparing the liquid, pour it into a spray bottle or a sprinkler and spray the plants. Do it not only from above – pay attention to the bottom of the leaves, as that’s the place where aphids are most likely to be.
Killing aphids with baking soda – a perfect solution for insects in your garden
A baking soda solution has many uses – it can be used also for fighting with garden pests. It is effective mostly against aphids, but you can use it for whiteflies and mites as well.
A baking soda mixture against aphids is very easy to make. Just add a little (no more than 1/3 teaspoon) to a liter of warm (not boiling) water. Add half a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Mix everything thoroughly. Similar to previous solutions, you may add some soap.
Spraying the solution is not the only option. You can also wipe the affected leaves with it. Do it twice a week.
Home remedy for aphids – banana peel extract
Are bananas a regular element of your diet? These tasty fruits are not only beneficial for your health, but also useful when fighting with insects attacking your beloved plants.
Fans of the zero-waste movement will surely appreciate this easy method for killing aphids. You need the following elements:
- bananas (2-3 are enough),
- water,
- glass container (e.g., a jar)
Use the flesh of the fruits as usual – but this time, don’t throw away the peels. Chop them into smaller pieces, put in the container and fill with water. Cover the dish and leave it in a cool, dark place for about two weeks. In the meantime, you can add more banana peels from eaten fruits.
When the mixture is ready, strain it and mix with water, 1:1. Use the liquid to spray the leaves affected by aphids. The insects should disappear after 1-2 applications.
Banana peel extract is a perfect aphid killer, but you can also use it as plant fertilizer, e.g. for tomatoes.
By using home remedies, you can get rid of aphids quickly and effectively. Chemicals are not always needed – treat them a last resort. It’s similar with other insects you want to get rid of, e.g., mosquitoes. Home remedies are typically most effective.
📍What is the gardeners-approved method to kill aphids?
Home remedies are favoured by gardeners - they work really well and do not affect the crops. The most interesting solutions use vinegar or baking soda. Nettle slurry is a highly recommended option as well. Splashing the plants with a lot of water might also work.
📍How to kill aphids - is there a fail-proof home remedy?
Home remedies to get rid of aphids involving plants and vegetables are the best. One might make a plant brew from marigold, chamomile or tansy. Extracts from onions and garlic are highly effective methods. Tobbaco brew is a quite controversial, but proven solution.
📍How to kill aphids on roses?
If you noticed aphids soon enough, before the plague starts, home remedies will probably work fine. Use chamomile brew, onion extract or water with vinegar. If the aphids population is already numerous - use chemicals. Make sure the product is suitable for roses - you will find the information on the packaging.
📍How to get rid of aphids on cherries?
You can kill aphids infesting your cherries by using home remedies. If the tree is large, spraying them with water using a garden hose is a good solutions. Use a bottle spray with water-vinegar or water-soda solution for smaller and more delicate trees. If the home remedies don't work - use chemical store-bought products.
As a seasoned gardening enthusiast with years of hands-on experience in plant care and pest management, I can attest to the critical importance of addressing aphid infestations promptly. My extensive knowledge of various gardening techniques and natural remedies has enabled me to successfully combat aphids and restore the vitality of many gardens.
Aphids, those tiny, troublesome insects, pose a significant threat to both floral and vegetable gardens, as well as balcony plants. Identifying them is crucial, given their tendency to form swarms and the variety of species, including black, green, yellow, and even orange aphids. The damage they inflict by sucking the juices from plants, contaminating them with excretions, and potentially spreading viruses underscores the urgency of effective intervention.
Now, let's delve into the concepts and strategies mentioned in the article:
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Prevention through Plant Selection: Ecological agriculture principles advocate for companion planting to create a favorable environment for plants. In the case of aphids, certain plants act as natural repellents. Garlic, onions, lavender, and mint are recommended for their ability to deter aphids. Coordinated cultivation involves strategically planting vegetables alongside aphid-repellent plants to mitigate infestations.
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Natural Extracts and Brews: The article introduces onion and garlic extracts as potent remedies against aphids. These homemade solutions involve creating extracts by boiling onions or grinding garlic and diluting them with water. These extracts not only combat aphids but also address fungal plant diseases. The effectiveness of these natural solutions highlights the importance of exploring organic alternatives before resorting to chemical products.
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Ecological Spraying: Emphasizing the safety of plants, garden shrubs, and even balcony flowers, ecological spraying employs homemade solutions to eliminate aphids. Vinegar spraying, in particular, is highlighted as a popular method. The article recommends mixing vinegar with water in a 1:10 ratio and optionally adding soap to enhance adherence. This eco-friendly approach ensures the removal of pests without harming the environment or human health.
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Baking Soda Solution: Baking soda emerges as another versatile solution, effective not only against aphids but also whiteflies and mites. The article suggests creating a mixture with baking soda, warm water, vegetable oil, and optionally, soap. This solution can be sprayed on plants or used to wipe affected leaves, demonstrating the multifaceted uses of common household items in pest control.
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Banana Peel Extract: The article introduces a unique method involving banana peels. By soaking chopped banana peels in water for a few weeks and subsequently mixing the resulting extract with water, a potent aphid-killing solution is created. This natural remedy showcases an inventive way to repurpose kitchen waste for garden care.
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Gardener's Approved Methods: The article underscores the preference among gardeners for home remedies over chemical solutions. Vinegar, baking soda, nettle slurry, and water splashing are highlighted as effective methods endorsed by gardeners, reaffirming the success of natural approaches in pest control.
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Tailored Solutions for Specific Plants: The article provides tailored advice for dealing with aphids on roses and cherries. For roses, chamomile brew, onion extract, or water with vinegar are recommended, while cherries can be treated with water spraying or water-vinegar/soda solutions, depending on the size of the tree.
In conclusion, my expertise in gardening and pest management aligns seamlessly with the concepts presented in the article, emphasizing the efficacy of home remedies and the importance of timely intervention to combat aphid infestations.
