How to Control Aphids in Your Organic Garden

I believe that the most important thing you can do to ensure a pest-free garden is to build healthy soil that produces healthy plants. Still, there will be times that you want a few strategies to control aphids and other insects in your organic garden.

Aphids come in a variety of colors including yellow, brown, green, red or black and are generally about 1/16″ – 1/8″ long. They have a soft body and are pear-shaped, with mouths that pierce plant tissue, and suck the plant’s sap.

Aphids are particularly attracted to plants in the cabbage family such as cabbage, cauliflower, and radishes. They also love nasturtium, which is sometimes grown as a trap crop – it attracts the aphids so that they leave your other plants alone.

Preventing Aphid Damage

Look for aphids on stems, and under leaves, where they’ll be found huddled in a group. Young plants are especially susceptible to damage where you’ll find distorted or curled leaves or buds.

While physical damage to plants is a concern with aphids, the main concern is that they can transmit viruses from plant to plant.

Aphids excrete a sweet sticky substance, known as honeydew, on leaves. Ants are sometimes attracted to this honeydew, so if you see ants on your plants, be sure to also check for the much smaller aphids.

The first time I had a problem with aphids as a young gardener was after applying quite a bit of manure to my garden. Aphids love excessive nitrogen and my overfeeding of manure attracted them. Be careful to not over apply any source of nitrogen.

Examine your plants frequently and quickly take action to remove aphids by hand squashing, or by spraying them with a strong stream of water. Soapy water helps as well.

Another strategy is to place yellow sticky traps near susceptible plants to attract and trap the aphids. Keep in mind that not all aphids are winged, and only a winged aphid would move from feeding on a plant to a sticky trap.

Beneficial Insects to Control Aphids

One of the best methods of control for aphids is beneficial insects. Ladybugs, and especially ladybug larvae, eat aphids, as do lacewings, parasitic wasps, praying mantis, spiders, and even hornets and yellow jackets.

Once you have an outbreak of aphids is not the time to try and attract beneficial insects to your garden. This should be part of your gardening strategy from day one.

Plants which attract beneficial insects to your garden are known as insectary plants. These plants will attract, shelter, and feed the beneficial insects that you want to attract to your garden. Those beneficial insects will then feed on destructive insects when needed.

It’s important to provide plants which bloom at different times so that food is always available.

Organic Products that Control Aphids

It is best practice to start with preventive measures like hand picking, or a strong spray of water to control aphids. Only then is it advised to move on to organic products.

Horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, and neem oil are all effective against aphids. All of these products work by smothering the insect, so it is important to spray directly on the aphids.

You can make your own insecticidal soap spray by mixing 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 tablespoon of liquid soap (not detergent), and 1 quart of water.

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To learn how to build a garden that builds healthy soil, be sure to check out my eBook The Art of Gardening: Building Your Soil. You really can become a better gardener, and you really can grow healthy, nourishing produce. It’s all about the soil! Click here to buy now.