aphids

What's the most effective way of dealing with clusters of aphids on roses...? Is there a good product or is it a matter of knocking the things off? Any suggestions please?

 

Depends if you want to be organic or not. If not, there are loads of sprays available.
I do try not to use insecticides and pesticides unless of natural origin, so I would go round the roses wiping off most of the aphids with thumb and forefinger [v. messy but quick death] and then spray with a dilute [just afew drops] solution of liquid soap or washing up liquid. This apparently lowers the surface tension of water so that the breathing apparatus of the aphids is clogged, and they suffocate.

 

It's really odd- organic doesn't = humane! Just like using a flame-thrower to get rid of weeds is "organic" I agre, Liz - it's not practical to pick them off. I use leaf wipes if poss, but you can't do that on hairyu leaves - so a soapy spray is what I use then. Also strips to hang up - there are organic one, but I can't remember where I got them - must google it!

 

More Information
Safety Data Sheet
Trade Information
Plant insecticides
Bayer Garden Organic Pest Control


Here's a ready-made spray, organic, of the type Liz is talking about if you don't want to make your own.

Description: Organic, ready-to-use contact insect control.

Benefits: Controls greenfly, blackfly, whitefly, red spider mite and scale on flowers, shrubs, selected vegetables and fruit crops.
Can be used on edible plants right up to harvest.

Active ingredient: Natural fatty acids

 

Brilliant. Thanks for your help, the Bayer product sounds good.

 

Another widely used 'natural' control for aphids and all sorts of other nasties is Neem Oil Soap (very popular in the States)

 

Be sure to check any 'sticky traps' regularly, I once caught a robin on one, (I guess it looked like a tray of his favourite snacks).
He was hopelessly stuck & absolutely livid. I eventually prised & trimmed him free, & he flew away ok.

 

good point, Tortuosa

 

Why do we all have to be ORGANIC.... Sorry, but a little help from modern day sience dose not to me seem so bad.. The holy than thou TV lot have a lot to answer for, I have always believed in moderartion in all things, so use the sprays. Or if this organic fad continues we will all be living in mud huts before long.... ???

 

Organic doesn't equal going backwards, progress is finding out that some of the recent science is actually flawed, organic just means bearing in mind that we do share the earth (with each other as well as all the other critters!), & are responsible for it. If you put all the gardens in Britain together you'd get an area the size of Sussex, so what we do in them makes a difference. + why make the big chemical companies rich when a quick jet of plain old water will do the same. And the stuff they put in a lot of sprays isn't healthy for you never mind the bugs!

 

I actually do use the neem oil soap for my spray, it combines the benefits of the soap and neem oil. I didn't mention it because it isnt readily available like washing up liquid!
DavieM, organic gardeners are not all fanatics, it just seems more sensible and cheaper to use natural solutions if they work well, as this remedy does! Commercial insecticides often kill beneficial insects as well as the ones you're trying to get rid of.
I also believe in moderation, so will use a spray or whatever, if all else has failed.

 

I've just been doing a bit of Googling for neem oil. Very interesting - it seems it is also effective against nits and scabies.

 

Every classroom should have some!

 

Tortuosa, I asume you are talking about those yellow sheet dangly things that I have all over my greenhouse?

They seem to do a pretty good job, but sometimes I get stuck to them myself! Bit worried about birds though. Makes me wonder if its worth fixing up a bit of wire mesh around them - would keep them straight and I wouldn't get stuck to them either?

Will have to do some experimenting, thanks for the tip.

 

good idea DAG, if you can do it without getting stuck to them in the first place! If you devise a technique, maybe you could give a workshop on it!