Effective aphid pest control: Keep your plants healthy and thriving

These are common pests found in your garden and every gardener has encountered a few. The key to dealing with these small but destructive pests is knowing when and how to take action.

Aphids are most abundant in summer and spring when temperatures are hot to moderate and plants produce some new soft growth, which they are highly attracted to.

How to get rid of Aphids

Most of the first signs of an aphid infestation are not the visible presence of the insects themselves. Instead what you’ll see are the symptoms on your plants which can be, twisted and curled leaves, yellowing leaves, or dead shoots with sluggish plant growth.

When the aphid population explodes and begins to cause noticeable damage to leaves, this is the right time to act immediately. The sooner you handle the infestation the better. Aphids can be removed using natural ways that are safe for your plants.

Close-up of female hands with spray spraying potato plants protection from fungal diseases infections, insect control, mineral organic fertilizers on leaf to increase yield. Agriculture horticulture

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Spraying with water

The easiest and fastest method of getting rid of the pest is using normal water. Just spray them off your plants with a strong stream of water from the garden hose. Since they are small, even good rainwater droplets can knock them off your plants.

Clean off using your hands

You can also use your hands to help remove aphids from your plants. This non-toxic process of getting rid of aphids is gentle, just rub your thumb and fingertips over your plants’ leaves and stems wherever you see them, or just wipe them off with a cloth.

Apply neem oil

A natural insecticide oil that is effective enough to rid of aphids can also be a great option. The oil helps to disrupt the hormonal balance of aphids, making it difficult for them to feed and reproduce. For the ultimate effectiveness use the oil mix with water and focus on the areas where aphids are present.

Using organic insecticidal

Organic products only kill aphids when they come in direct contact You need to reapply frequently until the pests are completely gone. Also spray the undersides of the leaves as that is where aphids hide the most. These organic insecticides are less least likely to cause damage to the plants.