Greenfly problem resolution

[Varan Komodosky]

Hi, just recently I have have been having a massive greenfly problem with a Peace rose in my garden. No insects seemed to be coming near them to scoff them up and they were doing an unseemly amount of damage to the buds of the rose.

I was unhappy.

Somewhere, in the distant past, I heard that the 'organic' way of solving aphid problems was to give them a squirt with a very mild solution of washing up liquid. Which I promptly did. They thrived off it. Rose getting sicker...

In a flash of inspiration I decided to pop a wee drop of vinegar into the spray and give them a blast of that, my logic telling me that they wouldn't like the stinky vinegar and they would go away to another plant that wouldn't find them a problem.

I was astonished by the result. In two days all the aphids were dead and scorched. Not just the 'sucker' ones, but the wingy ones too.

Doesn't seem to have any impact on the rose, apart - obviously - from a mild transitory pong of smart price vinegar.

Actually, if there was a rose that smelled like a fish and chip shop I would probably plant it.

Anyone else try something like this?

[Pigeon feather]

I tried a similar thing with Garlic some time ago when I was getting an infestation of aphids on my basil plants, I crushed some cloves and mixed them with warm water in a spray bottle to spray the basil, it certainly made a difference! the aphids hated it, though I must say the basil did smell rather strongly of garlic after that!!!!!

[Varan Komodosky]

Giving that a try when problems reoccur. Thanks

[nikki cooper]

Thanks so much for that. I've had terrible problems with my roses too. I'll try the vinegar. Attracting ladybirds into the garden is a good idea. There are several nesting boxes available.

[SweetRocket]

What I do is wipe away the aphids from the flower buds and leave the rest to the blue tits, sparrows and wrens. The rose's don't seem to suffer and I have had brilliant displays the last two years, think it must be down to our changing weather they are doing so well.
But if there is a serious infestation, out comes the spray filled with washing up liquid, it works!!

[ron1863]

My mother always said that there were hundreds of uses for vinegar and we have a book on it's uses but I don't think that ones in it. Well done

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

You can also use the solution left after soaking rhubard leaves in a bucket of water. I'm not sure what the best mixture is if it's very strong it's likely to kill the plant as well. Green fly don't stand a chance.

BWD

[Lance Morgan]

Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid (poisonous) so be careful. I thought washing up liquid and water was good for getting rid of greenfly.

[egro]

I have heard that planting garlic near roses help with blackspot and would also deter greenfly.Washing up liquid works for me.Rhubarb leaves soaked is good too for pests and diseases.Of course best to encourage birds in to your garden and they soon gobble up the greenfly. Ladybirds also excellent.Egro.