Greenfly, whitefly aphids and other garden pests

[geminisnake]

Spraying them with water and washing up liquid will get rid of them

I've found that you're better to use the suds left from your washing up liquid. Smother the plant with them.
it is, technically, illegal to use washing up liquid in the garden, you have been warned!!

If they are indoor plants fumigate(sp?) the damn flies with a plastic bag over plant then put lit cigarette into bag and let fill with smoke. Leave bag in place overnight.

 

[mr steev]

I've found that you're better to use the suds left from your washing up liquid. Smother the plant with them.
it is, technically, illegal to use washing up liquid in the garden, you have been warned!!

I'll try the suds things next time. Just had to give my strawberries a dousing due to greenfly... they're in pots though so hopefully I won't get arrested!

 

[suzee blue cheese]

Whitefly eat the plant sap making them weak and can introduce plant viruses. can kill it if its aint treated. Same for greenfly (but not 100% sure)

Yes, same for greenfly.

Companion planting can be very useful. Pot marigolds are good for deterring greenfly - something about the smell they exude. Plus planting flowers which attract hoverflies such as alyssium or poached egg plants is excellent - hoverflies eat more aphids than ladybird larvae do.

 

[davgraham]

All good advice so far

. . . but if you have an infestation and the normal predators aren't keeping them under control, consider whether the way you are growing may not be helping

eg long leggy, soft growth because of humid conditions or over feeding with nitrogen - true of greenhouses esp. as plants can become 'drawn'.

eg growing stuff too close together so that the flies/aphids are protected and predators can't get in.

Once you have all the variables more in balance with one another, the whitefly / green fly problem should not loom so large. Healthy plants, whilst they may be checked somewhat, should be able to survive an attack and as they harden up the effects will be over come.

I'm a sort of 'benign neglect' gardener since my allotment is a couple of miles from where I live so I just have to be accepting of the odd infestation.

The major problem I find is with whitefly because these over winter and introduce viruses esp to strawberries. Solution is hygiene - washing pots etc with Jeyes fluid and being ruthless with digging out strawberries after only a couple of years. Other than soapy water I use liquid derris, which is about the only spraying I do.


Gra

 

[_pH_]

I've found that you're better to use the suds left from your washing up liquid. Smother the plant with them.
it is, technically, illegal to use washing up liquid in the garden, you have been warned!!

If they are indoor plants fumigate(sp?) the damn flies with a plastic bag over plant then put lit cigarette into bag and let fill with smoke. Leave bag in place overnight.

Fumigating with nicotine is even more illegal than using washing up liquid.

 

[geminisnake]

Fumigating with nicotine is even more illegal than using washing up liquid.

Really?? Fairly sure I got the idea from that big garden place in Cornwall.

And they have to catch ye first, eh?

 

[_pH_]

Really?? Fairly sure I got the idea from that big garden place in Cornwall.

And they have to catch ye first, eh?

If using washing up liquid is illegal then I suppose technically, yes. Nicotine shreds sold as a horticultural pesticide are IIRC only available to professional users and as such would be covered by the Control of Pesticides Regulations (part of the Food and Environment Protection Act). This essentially requires you to hold a Certificate of Competence to apply any pesticide (PA1 and PA6A in this case) so using nicotine in any other circumstance would contravene FEPA (i.e., illegal).

However, using a lighted fag probably doesn't apply, as fags wouldn't be classed as pesticides. But then the same could be said for using washing up liquid. Unless you use a specific horticultural Insecticidal Soap, which would be covered by COPR as above and as such would require a certificate of competence, unless you have 'Grandad' rights of exemption from needing a certificate. Unless it's a product approved for domestic use in which case it would still be covered by COPR but wouldn't require a Certificate of Competence.


Wonderfully confusing isn't it?

 

[Mrs Magpie]

The shed skins of aphids are often mistaken for whitefly. Whitefly congregate underneath the leaves and fly up in a cloud if you touch the plant...which means in a greenhouse or indoors you can do for the little buggers with sticky traps.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

<snip> eg long leggy, soft growth because of humid conditions or over feeding with nitrogen <snip>

Certainly when it comes to roses, I try to avoid pruning them much, because you then tend to get into a cycle of pruning and heavy fertilisation to grow back what you chopped off. That results in sappy growth which attracts loads of aphids.

 

[lizzieloo]

We use chilli and garlic wizzed in the wizzer thingy, they don't like that much, be careful there are no other creepy crawlies about tho, they don't like it either.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

What's to be done?

 

[mr steev]

Spray them with diluted washing up liquid for a few days

 

[gentlegreen]

Hang a fatball over them to attract the birds.

 

[pogofish]

Stew some wormwood and add a wee skoosh of detergent to the liquour.

 

[davesgcr]

Washing up water if you want to be eco-green ! Helps (no grease though)

 

[editor]

The bastards have set up a fucking commune on my plants.

 

[editor]

Bastards!

This site says:

Methods of removal

• Encourage their natural enemies of hoverflies, lacewings and ladybirds. Plants which these beneficial insects love include catnip, clover, dill, mint, oregano and yarrow.
• Feed the birds and provide nest sites as small birds such as Blue Tits, Coal Tits and Wrens love aphids and they will soon clear them.
• Rub the aphids off between your finger and thumb.
• Blast them off every few days with a strong jet of water, don’t forget the underside of the leaves.
• Spray with a weak solution of washing-up liquid and water, as this kills on contact don’t forget the undersides of the leaves.
• Place 3 – 4 drops of essential oils; clove, peppermint, rosemary and thyme, in a hand spray then top up with water. This also kills the eggs and the larvae so don’t forget the undersides of the leaves and in the leaf axils.
• Into a litre of water mix a pinch of cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of washing-up liquid and spray the actual insects.
• A dusting of corn-flour is also said to work as it clogs up their internal organs.
• Chemical sprays made with natural pyrethrum, plant or fish oils. Again these are contact killers.
• Biological control is really effective but only works in a greenhouse.
• Aphids love nasturtiums so planting these will lure them away from your prize roses.

Preventative measures

• Don’t over-feed your plants with a high nitrogen fertiliser as this encourages a lot of new sappy growth which is exactly what the aphids love. Grow your plants a bit ‘hard’ so that they can cope with a slight infestation.
• Keep feeding the birds so that the aphids are always under control.
• Try and achieve a balance in your garden with as many plant varieties as possible which will encourage predators.

How do I get rid of aphids (greenfly and blackfly)?

Keep aphids under control with these handy hints and tipsAphids can be the bane of a gardeners life, they distort foliage, can infect certain species with virus and they exude a sweet sticky substance called honeydew which attracts the growth of sooty fungus. This sooty fungus covers leaves in a...

www.hayesgardenworld.co.uk

Problem is that I've got them on some delicate flowers in a semi enclosed space so there's no chance of birds flapping in and blasting them with strong jets of water tens to blast away the petals too...

 

[Badgers]

Live Ladybirds-Natural pest Control (25): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

Great prices on your favourite Gardening brands, and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[crossthebreeze]

If you do go for ladybirds or hoverflies then ignore the soap, cornflour, chilli, garlic, essential oils, and organic sprays - as they kill/deter the beneficial insects too. It'll all balance out eventually.

 

[editor]

Live Ladybirds-Natural pest Control (25): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

Great prices on your favourite Gardening brands, and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Potentially a stupid question but what's stopping them flying away?

These are cheaper, btw

Dragonfli Ladybird Adults - Live Ladybirds for the Natural Control of Aphids & Greenfly (15): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

Great prices on your favourite Gardening brands, and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[StoneRoad]

I've got a few lot of aphids on the roses. Just on the very young growth.
Been using a hand sprayer, up close but with plain water, as well as squishing a few.
Blue tits also at work ...
Rather short on lacewings and ladybugs this year.

 

[crossthebreeze]

Potentially a stupid question but what's stopping them flying away?
Nothing, but while they have plenty food (aphids) and some sort of shelter (look up ladybird houses and make or buy or leave hollow stalks of plants for them) and some moisture at least some will stick around and breed.

 

[wayward bob]

we have the wrong kind of ladybird larvae (the orange ones, not the native reds) but they still do the same job and spotted my first lace wing this week.

if it's only a small number of plants i'd go with squishing/knocking off by hand (depending on how juicy the shoots are a chopstick can be handy). or neem/soap spray.

 

[davesgcr]

I think the ladybirds - and they are around - are just overwhelmed at the moment with so much "free" food.

Try a gentle water spray - non toxic and you can always wear gloves and squash a few......(green fly not ladybirds)

 

[Badgers]

Potentially a stupid question but what's stopping them flying away?

These are cheaper, btw

Dragonfli Ladybird Adults - Live Ladybirds for the Natural Control of Aphids & Greenfly (15): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

Great prices on your favourite Gardening brands, and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Clip their wings or tether them with fishing line