Effective Natural Remedies for Aphid Control

Aphids can be a big problem in the garden. They can be extremely annoying pests and it is important to use some form of aphid control in order to eliminate the problem as quickly as possible.

What are aphids?
The tiny insects that feed on the buds of roses and other flowers are known as aphids. They are extremely small creatures, usually growing around 3mm in length. Some adults have wings whereas others don't and it is possible to have more than 20 different species of aphid attacking a greenhouse full of plants.

Some common Aphids include:

• Green Peach Aphid
• Melon Aphid
• Oleander Aphid
• Rose Aphid

The Green Peach Aphid is usually green or rose in color and it easily spreads plant viruses. They can be transported through high wind and in storms. If a plant in a greenhouse is infected with this aphid and it is moved to a field or large garden area, other plants within that area will also become infested.

The Melon Aphid is usually more of a problem in south west areas of the United States. They live off over 70 different host plants and they are mainly pests on plants such as cucumber, pumpkins and citrus plants.

Oleander Aphids are bright yellow with black legs and they usually appear in late spring. Unlike Green Peach and Melon Aphids, these ones do not live on a wide variety of plants. It is generally restricted to butterfly weed and milk weed. They do not generally cause a plant any damage but because there are usually so many of them, they can be unsightly and the dew they cause can be a nuisance.

Rose Aphids not only attack roses but they also attack fruit trees and pyracantha. When giving birth they produce live offspring unlike some other aphids who lay eggs. They cause deformed leaves and stems.

Aphid Infestation and Damage Process
Controlling aphids can only be done effectively when you know exactly how bad the problem is. This allows you to know how bad the problem is and to what extent you need to go to, to eliminate the problem.

If you do have an infestation of aphids you will notice small yellow discolorations on the leaves of the plants. Some of the leaves will also wilt and dry out as the aphids.

Aphids also leave honeydew sap on leaves and plant stems. This dew is usually a clear color though occasionally it can turn black as it grows harmless mold on it. These make plants to look badly. The sweetness of the dew can attract other garden pests such as ants and flies.

Usually aphids disappear within a month after infesting a garden and the strongest of flowers will have survived the attack. However, the weaker ones are likely to die and be destroyed during the attack.

If you don't have a big infestation it is highly unlikely that the aphids will cause much damage. If they are more in number the damages will be more. Even if there are low number of aphids, they can still carry plant diseases which can cause significant amount of losses and it is hard to treat.

Aphid Control Process
Aphid Control can be difficult but there are some methods that have been proven to work. These include:

• Using Pesticides
• Eucalyptus Oil
• Garlic Cloves
• Natural spray
• Other bugs

Pesticides
While many people use them, pesticides do not always work and they can be harmful to environment. There are some aphids resistant against pesticides and so it is always important to research which variety you have. If your infestation is too big it would be worth calling a professional to sort out the problem for you.

All pesticides can be harmful to the environment and even to our pets, they don't always stay in the same place we spray them and in fact a lot of the mist drift over to other areas around. This can be bad news in built up areas and the risk of affecting local wildlife and neighbor pets is quite high.

Eucalyptus Oil and Garlic Cloves
Eucalyptus Oil can be sprayed directly onto flowers and it is more of a natural cure for aphids. It is a humane way of controlling aphids and it deters them rather than kills them.

Garlic cloves are also effective in warding aphids and they should be rubbed along the plants leaves and stem.

A Natural Spray
You can eliminate an aphid infestation by killing them by creating a natural spray from water, oil and dishwater soap,. It is non toxic to humans and pets but it is highly effective in eliminating an aphid problem.

Other Bugs
If possible it is always best to leave the problem up to nature. There are other bugs that eat aphids including the lady bug. If you place lady bugs near the infected area they are more than likely to kill the aphids for you. So always encourage environments for lady bugs to survive in .

Whichever aphid control you decide to use, make sure you tackle the problem early enough and remember to look out for all the signs of an aphid infestation.