Blackfly! Millions of them!

Find some ladybirds

 

On a similar note i've found my new Yellow Patio Rose Standard absolutely covered in White/Greenfly. I suppose it's to be expected as we haven't had the hotter weather to bring out an explosion of Ladybirds but when it happens they'll certainly have a good feast in my garden.

 

Hi FC

Spray with soapy water ,
Lots of diffrent aphids to suit lots of diffrent plants
Spruce

 

Titchmarsh once said the only effect of spraying aphids with soapy water was "Clean Aphids".
I still try but also have Bug Buster and similar to treat the clean aphids.

 

Not sure I would agree - surfactants do interfere with gas-exchange through the soft-skin of aphids; I use horticultural soap (can't remember what the distinction is, but its something like presence/absence of Phosphates). I also mix in Neem oil, and that does seem to do the trick (so may be more to do with Neem and the Soap as a wetting agent perhaps?) - but ... its a contact-solution, so you have to do top & bottom surfaces of the leaves, and do it often enough to kill follow-on generations (if its bad I do it every 2 days initially, then once a week after its under control) which is a huge faff compared to using a systemic insecticide, thus I tend to only do it on food crops, and the ornamentals get the chemical insecticides.

 

Provado Ultimate Bug killer will sort it quick

I don't like using chemicals but sometimes you have to when dealing with things like aphids, blackfly, vine weevil and slugs/snails

 

Just for completeness: this thread isn't about Edibles, but Provado Ultimate Bug killer is only permitted for use on some vegetable crops once per season! and others have a low limit too, and don't harvest for 14 days after treating (read the label for exact requirements).

For me the fact that such conditions exist at all means I personally choose not to use it on edible crops.

 

What's going on a couple of months back my garden was covered in Ladybirds....where are they now when we need them.......

 

good point ... I have a bottle in front of me so I will relay what the label states as regards crops

House Plants, ornamental garden shrubs ... 4 applications/ year

Greenhouse tomato, pepper, cucumber, aubergine, courgette... 3 applications/ crop

apple, pear, cherry, mirabelle .... 2 applications / year or crop

plum ... 3 applications per year/crop

Tree nuts, almond, chestnut, hazelnut, walnut ... 2 applications per year/crop

Strawberry outdoor and greenhouse ... 2 applications per year/crop

there's a few more on the label ... the only ones that say you should use only 1 application is herbs and lettuce and leafy brassicae (up to 8 leaf stage)

 

I use soapy water (washing up liquid) and it works fine. You can also add a few drops of veg oil.

Alternatively, there is something very satisfying in squishing them with your fingers.

If you use chemicals there's the danger to other beneficial critters which eat aphids.