Aphid Control Without Pesticides

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Aphids reproduce extremely rapidly, so it can be extremely difficult to deal with it. Young shoots and leaves are especially affected by aphids. However, the fight against this pest is quite possible without the use of all kinds of pesticides

Plants

Plants growing on the site will definitely become good helpers - some of them are able to distract aphids from the main planted crops, attracting their attention to themselves. Savior plants include glue, beans, tuberous begonias, cosmea, petunia, as well as mallow and nasturtium. In addition to them, there are also plants, whose smell very well repels pests. They are perfect for planting along the edges of the beds. Dalmatian chamomile, garlic, mint, pyrethrum, marigolds, fennel, onions, coriander and other herbs with a strong odor are rightfully considered to repel pests. Viburnum, bird cherry and linden are also good bait for aphids, but they are not suitable for planting near major crops.

Insects and birds

It will be much easier to fight aphids if you do not neglect the help of such wonderful allies as predatory bugs, some species of wasps, equestrians, funny lacewings, ground beetles, hoverflies or surf flies. Do not forget about the ladybirds, whose larvae are the insidious enemies of the aphids. To attract all these helpers, dill, carrots, parsley and other herbs with a strong smell are often planted. As for ladybirds, their help is gratefully accepted even by the royal gardens of England - there ladybirds are prescribed for these purposes, coping well without any chemical means of struggle.

It is important to know that the harmful aphids also have allies - these are black ants, with which it is also extremely important to fight. The thing is that black ants actively protect aphids from natural enemies, because for them aphids are a kind of breadwinner, giving them tasty sweet secretions. To get rid of ants, all kinds of baits are placed on the site. A good effect can be achieved by sprinkling the anthills with slaked lime or watering with boiling water.

Birds also play an important role in aphid control. For a fairly large number of small birds, it is a coveted object of prey, because the birds feed their chicks with aphids. Chiffchaffs, titmice, beetles, sparrows and other small birds are especially eager to eat aphids. To attract birds to the site, birdhouses and feeders are built, as well as small water reservoirs are equipped or dishes with water are placed in free access for birds.

Good agricultural technology

If you observe crop rotation, remove tops with root shoots from fruit trees, eliminate vegetation remnants and annoying weeds, then the number of aphids can also be significantly reduced, because there will be absolutely nowhere for it to lay its wintering eggs. The sowing of green manure also contributes to the reduction of the aphid population and its rapid destruction. Competent care and good agricultural technology perfectly help to maintain plant health, which in turn is also important - after all, healthy plants are much less susceptible to damage by this parasite compared to weak ones.

Folk remedies

It is important to know that although vegetable decoctions and infusions are by no means chemicals, they can still pose a certain danger not only to harmful aphids, but also to other insects, and sometimes they can cause burns in plants. In addition, a number of plants are very poisonous for people, and therefore the recipe should be strictly observed, using them as sparingly as possible. If the vegetation had to be treated with infusions of tobacco, dope, tomato, potato or black henbane, then they will be suitable for consumption only 10 days later, not earlier.

Ash and soap solution. Take 150 - 300 g of ash; it should be poured with 10 liters of hot water, and then brought to a boil. 40 g of soap is added only after the boiled solution has cooled slightly.

Tobacco (or makhorka). For two days, 200 g of pre-crushed dry raw materials are insisted in 5 liters of water. After this time, the solution must be filtered and added with another 5 liters of water. You can make not only an infusion, but also a similar broth - the proportions remain unchanged, only the raw material is infused for one day, and after that it is boiled for two hours.

Potato tops. You will need 1 kg of healthy green tops or 0.7 kg dry. The starting material is finely cut, insisted for 3 hours. Then everything is filtered and the plants can be sprayed.

Mustard. In a liter of water for 48 hours, 10 g of mustard powder should be insisted, subsequently adding another 4 liters of water.