Dealing with Aphids in the Garden

Aphids. Even the word fills most gardeners with fury. These small sap-sucking insects make it their mission in life to weaken and kill your plants and can seem next to impossible to get rid of. 

But knowledge is power, and the more you know about them, the easier it might be to stop them in their tracks. If you’re currently dealing with an aphid invasion, here’s what you need to know.

What Do Aphids Do?

A more straightforward question to ask would be what do aphids don’t do. Here in New Zealand, we mostly see green aphids, but sometimes woolly aphids and black and white aphids make an appearance. Regardless of their colouring, they’re sapsuckers. They feed on a wide range of plants, weaken them, and spread disease.

You may also notice that, sometimes, they excrete a sticky, sugary, honeydew substance. This attracts ants and wasps and can lead to the fungi growth known as sooty mould.

What Plants Do Aphids Hate?

It can sometimes seem like whatever you plant, aphids will love and destroy it, but there are plants they don’t like. If you grow aphid-repelling plants, you may be able to limit just how much havoc they wreak in your garden.

If you’re trying to protect your roses, pair them with herbs and aromatic plants like dill, lavender, onion, garlic, and basil. Aphids don’t like these plants, so you may be able to give your roses a better chance of survival.

Some gardeners also rely on anti-aphid flowers like marigolds, sunflowers, petunias, and dahlias. Not only are they beautiful, but aphids would prefer not to live in an area with these flowers. As a result, anything else you want to keep free of aphids, such as vegetables, stand a much better chance.

What Plants Are Aphids Most Attracted To?

Aphids don’t generally discriminate when it comes to what plants they are most attracted to. While they have plenty they dislike, they prefer a wide range of flowering plants, herbs, fruits, and vegetables.

Generally, aphids make an appearance when temperatures are mild, and your gardens have plenty of foliage on offer. Spring and summer are when you will likely see large numbers of them on your plants, but they are also a year-round issue on many gardeners’ fruit, vegetables, and foliage.

Do Aphids Stay in the Soil?

There are thousands of aphid species in the world, and all have different habits. Most of the aphids we have here in Aotearoa live underneath the leaves of our plants, but we also have some that stay in the soil.

These are known as root aphids, and they spend their days underground feeding on the roots of your plants. This can cause plants to wilt and discolour and, in some cases, die. Fortunately, you can attempt to solve the problem by applying an organic insect control product to the soil and planting your root vegetables in a different location the following year.

Can Plants Recover from Aphids?

Yes, plants can recover from aphids! It’s easy to think that your plants are doomed as soon as aphids take hold. While that might be true of plants that were already weak, it doesn’t have to be the case with plants you have given the best chance of survival.

Plants that are grown in healthy soil with plenty of care may be in a much better position to fight off an aphid attack than plants you haven’t given much attention to at all. In many cases, your plants can be strong enough to fight an aphid attack without you even having to interfere.

Still, you don’t need to leave it up to your plants to do all the leg work. There are plenty of aphid control products on the market and strategic planting techniques that can help keep their numbers to a minimum.

How to Get Rid of Aphids Permanently?

You will most likely never be able to get rid of aphids from your property permanently. When they have a fresh supply of foliage to enjoy, they can always make their way back.

However, there are ways to get rid of them from your garden for at least a growing season or two. You can mix a few teaspoons of mild liquid dish soap with a litre of water and gently spray or wipe it on your plants’ leaves, stems, and buds. This won’t harm your plants, but it will kill aphids.

Are Aphids Harmful to Humans?

Aphids aren’t harmful to humans, but they are incredibly annoying. If you have sensitive skin, the honeydew they produce can be an irritant. Therefore, you should always carry out gardening and aphid treatments while wearing gloves.

Say Adios to Aphids

Aphids are frustrating, and they cause no end of grief to avid gardeners who just want to watch their roses, fruit, and vegetables thrive. By being selective with your plant choices and proactive with treatment, you may be able to say adios to aphids and give your plants a fighting chance.