Argh... mass bug attack again!

[frontiergirl53]

Aphids, gnats, and ants, oh my! Those are the pests I have now in my garden. What can I do to discourage them! I can't find ladybugs here, guess I have to wait for the clover to really take over in April! But what can I do 'till then? Sticky traps? They mainly hang out by my raspberries and pumpkins. Any advice is greatly apprecitated as I am transplanting a BUNCH is stuff this week and would like it to surive!

 

[catjac1975]

Do the gnats and ants hurt the plants or are they just annoying to you? A hard water spray should keep the aphids at bay. Pyrethrum is a plant derived organic spray that will work well on a variety of pests. I only use it in liquid form. You may need more local advice.

 

[digitS']

Insecticidal soap works fairly well on aphids.

Use it near sundown as the sunlight may damage the foliage after spraying. You can even combine it with a water spraying schedule. Blast as many aphids off the plants in the morning, spray with the soap in late afternoon, come back to wash off the aphids (& soap) the following morning.

If you use dishwashing soap, don't assume that it is safer for your plants than what is made especially for killing bugs.

Steve

 

[frontiergirl53]

Do the gnats and ants hurt the plants or are they just annoying to you? A hard water spray should keep the aphids at bay. Pyrethrum is a plant derived organic spray that will work well on a variety of pests. I only use it in liquid form. You may need more local advice.

Its hard to tell. They eat stalks of the plants.

 

[frontiergirl53]

Insecticidal soap works fairly well on aphids.

Use it near sundown as the sunlight may damage the foliage after spraying. You can even combine it with a water spraying schedule. Blast as many aphids off the plants in the morning, spray with the soap in late afternoon, come back to wash off the aphids (& soap) the following morning.

If you use dishwashing soap, don't assume that it is safer for your plants than what is made especially for killing bugs.

Steve

I will deffinetly do the soap routiene! Thanks!

 

[baymule]

Let us know if it works!