..without them controlling you

Aphids are annoying, but a crucial part of your garden’s ecosystem. If you can’t be faffed with reading the rest of this post, then the most important thing to know is that it’s not personal.

There are numerous chemical controls out there, and I have tried most of them, but none were a patch on squishing them with my fingers. Yes, it’s pretty messy, and a bit of a job when you’re dealing with an infestation, but team it up with a good spray from a hosepipe and you’ve basically hit them pretty hard. Some people then paint a ring of sticky honey around the bottom of each stem to make sure that any still-alive bugs won’t be able to climb back up again, but frankly I’m not one of those – we must maintain our sanity and leave something for the ladybirds, must we not?

Speaking of which, ladybirds are available to buy in large numbers specifically for this purpose, removing the problem of them not being around in sufficient numbers to deal with infestations quick enough.

For the more organised, companion planting is a must, and it really works. Aphids are repelled by onions, garlic, marigold (tagetes) and many of the smellier herbs. In the same vein, a few sacrificial nasturtiums planted nearby may well lure them away from colonising something more precious.

For highly prized, more delicate plants, a thorough spraying of water mixed with a couple of tablespoons of washing up liquid will get rid of them.

x Laetitia