How to get rid of aphids

While it can be quite a nuisance, aphid problems are relatively easy to deal with, as long as you’re patient and take safety measures to get rid of them. These soft-bodied insects use their sharp mouths to suck sap from the leaves. You can manually catch aphids gathered in small clusters, prune certain parts of the plant, or use homemade organic aphid spray for a longer-lasting effect. Once you’ve dealt with aphids, add some beneficial plants and insects to your garden to ward off any pests that may be waiting to return for revenge.

Table of Contents

Identifying aphids

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Learn to recognize aphids by sight. These tiny insects have round bodies, have 2 antennae, and near the tail 2 tendrils grow on either side of the body. Depending on the species, aphids can be white, black, gray, green, yellow, or even pink. When viewed up close, some aphids appear to be covered with a porous, cotton-like layer. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Aphids come in both wingless and flightless varieties, making them even more troublesome to control. Some aphids will grow wings when the local food supply is reduced and fly away in search of more abundant food. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Plant aphids are a common pest in all regions of the earth and can infect virtually any agricultural crop, tree, shrub or flower.

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Look at the undersides of leaves for aphids. Flip the leaf over and look closely to catch the aphids. Although aphids are small, you can see them with the naked eye. There is no better evidence for a plant aphid infestation than seeing them in person. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Although they love to eat the fresh leaves of fruits and vegetables, aphids don’t hate anything they can find.
Even a small number of aphids can cause major problems for farmers and gardeners.

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Pay attention to curled or discolored foliage. Take note every time the plant becomes sluggish for no apparent reason. After a while, hungry aphids can spread disease to plants or cause healthy plants to become weak and droopy. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

In addition to the obvious symptoms, you may see small bites along the leaf margins or veins.
Aphids often proliferate during the warm summer months.

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Look for honeydew to see where the aphids are. When sucking sap from healthy plants, aphids secrete a sticky substance called “sweet juice.” If the leaves are unusually shiny or look like they’re covered in mucus, there’s a good chance that aphids are nearby. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

The honeydew may turn dark brown or black as mold begins to appear. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
The occasional garden hose spray on the plants not only dislodges aphids, but also washes away the marks they leave.

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Keep an eye out for the nodules on the plant. Every two weeks, inspect the plants in the garden from the top to the roots for nodules. These are raised bumps or abnormal growths on the surface of infected plants. Most nodules form due to the irritation of insects such as aphids as they suck the sap and lay their eggs. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

The nodules can be accompanied by marked discolouration, making them look like lumps or mold spots.
If left untreated, the nodules can leave the plant vulnerable to serious diseases.

Catch aphids by hand

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Catch aphids by hand if the numbers are small. You can catch aphids crawling on leaves and strangle them. Aphids have soft stems, so you can easily finish them off by squeezing between two fingers. If there are about a dozen bed bugs, it may be easier to wipe them away with a damp paper towel. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Always wear gloves when catching aphids with your hands to protect your skin from irritation. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Although aphids often move and feed in groups, they sometimes appear individually.

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Spray infested leaves with a garden hose. A strong jet of water is enough to dislodge stubborn insects. Direct the water jet to the underside of the leaves, where aphids often congregate. Spray the plant with water 1-2 times a day until the number of aphids is reduced. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Do not apply high pressure to avoid damaging the plant, and try not to over-water.
Regular watering is the most effective way to deal with low to moderate aphid infestations on already hardy and healthy plants. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Allow leaves to dry completely between waterings. Wet foliage increases the risk of diseases such as blight and rust on moisture-sensitive plants. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Prune trees to remove large aphids. You will need to cut off the parts of the plant that are severely infested with aphids. Cut off fruit or leaves, cut off branches, even cut off large branches altogether. Double-check to make sure you haven’t missed any aphids on other parts of the plant. ^{[13] X Research Source}

After pruning infested plants, spray the plants thoroughly with water or a homemade aphids solution, such as those listed in this article.
Cutting off the aphid-infested part of the plant is most effective when the aphids are concentrated in a certain area of the tree.

Use insecticides and solutions to repel bed bugs

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Make a soap solution. Dissolve 2-3 teaspoons (10-15 ml) of mild dishwashing liquid in a cup of warm water in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray a generous amount of the solution on plants showing signs of aphid activity. The surfactants in soap will dry out insects without affecting the plant. ^{[14] X Research Source}

To increase the effect, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the solution. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Place the sprayer in the garage or garden shed for easy access when needed.
This solution also kills beneficial insects, so you should be selective when spraying the solution on plants. Rinse the sprayer with clean water after each use to prevent the nozzle from clogging.

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Try blending essential oils. Add 4-5 drops of rosemary, clove, cedar, orange, or peppermint essential oils (or blend each one your way) into a spray bottle filled with water. Spray the solution on the aphid-infested plants from the foliage to the roots. Aphids are inherently afraid of essential oils, so aphids that do not die from the solution will also rush to flee. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Essential oils are not only very safe but also have a pleasant aroma that helps repel insects.
Always dilute essential oil blends, as oils left on the leaves can burn the plant. Set aside a spray bottle for this, as the essential oils will soak into the bottle.

Prevent aphid outbreaks

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Introduce beneficial insects into the garden. Ladybugs, bee flies and beetles are a few of the insects that prey on aphids. When introduced into the garden, they will reduce and destroy pests, and restore order in areas damaged by infestation. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

You can usually buy eggs, larvae, and adults from predatory animals at garden supply stores.
Ladybugs and beetles can also become a nuisance. When using insects to kill insects, you should only bring in a small amount and remember to keep an eye on them, lest you destroy this species, you will have to continue to deal with other species.

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Choose plants that attract ladybugs. Make room for the insect’s favorite plants, such as geraniums, snow globes, sunflowers, Queen Anne’s Lace, and parsley. That way, you can attract ladybugs into your garden without the hassle of buying, releasing, and tracking them. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Think twice before pulling out all the weeds. Some weeds left scattered throughout the garden will help add variety to the garden, and wild plants such as dandelions or thyme can attract certain species of ladybugs. ^{[25] X Research Sources}
Provide a water source, such as a sprinkler system, fountain or bird feeder, to meet the ladybug’s needs. Place small stones in the center of the water so they have room to crawl out and avoid drowning.

Advice

Check the plants in the garden regularly to make sure the aphids that have been expelled have not returned.
Some plants, such as periwinkles, chrysanthemums, and marigolds, have properties that attract aphids. If you still want to keep these plants in your garden, you should keep them away from plants that you don’t want aphids to get near.

Warning

Avoid using chemical pesticides to deal with aphid infestations. These products not only kill aphids but also kill natural predators and pollinators making the problem worse than before.

Things you need

Garden Gloves
Tree pruning scissors
Garden hose
Water
Gentle liquid soap
Neem oil or rubbing alcohol (optional)
Beneficial insects
Onions, herbs and other fragrant plants
Ant spray
Aerosol

Steps