Natural Ways To Keep Aphids Out Of The Garden

Aphids are tiny insects that can infest a flower garden and suck the juice from the stems and leaves of your valuable plants. The aphids can carry viral disease, including mosaic, and their excretions, called honeydew, invite sooty mold.

You can minimize and even prevent aphid damage in the flower garden without the use of chemicals for an eco-friendly garden.

Homemade Natural Aphid Sprays

Natural aphid predators are often killed off when using chemical pesticides in the flower garden. Use ingredients from the home to make earth friendly sprays to use as a natural pesticide against aphids, while keeping the area safe for the predators that will keep future infestations of aphids from happening.

• Hot Pepper Spray Soak ½ cup of ground or finely chopped hop peppers in a pint of water, allowing the hot oils of the peppers to escape. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle and apply to aphid infested plants. Wear garden gloves when using the homemade hot pepper spray to keep your skin protected from irritation.
• Garlic Spray Add ½ cup of garlic cloves, minced or crushed, to a pint of water and let the garlic soak overnight. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle, straining out any of the garlic particles. Aphids will be repelled from plants that are sprayed with the homemade garlic water.

Companion Planting to Control Aphids

Lure aphids away from valuable flower plants by planting nasturtiums. A tender annual, the nasturtium has succulent leaves and fleshy stalks that the aphids will be attracted to. Planted at various locations of the garden, the nasturtium will attract aphids within 10 to 15 feet. Simply destroy the nasturtium and the aphids.

Natural Barriers to Keep Aphids Away

Diatomaceous earth and wood ashes are natural barriers to keep aphids away from flowers. Simply dust the plants and the soil around them. Wear a mask when applying the diatomaceous earth so that it’s not breathed in.