hi all im new gardener and just done my back and front garden as a bee/butterfly friendly place iv planted and scatted lots plant seeds good you might say but today iv notice iv got greenfly on my kiwi plant and i cant find any or have not even seen an ladybugs to eat them so can some one help me as to were to get ladybugs from i don't want to use pesticide on my plant as I have kids and pets. thank you for any help.
Welcome to Gardeners Corner You'll find the Larvae on Lime trees and the Adult beetles sunning themselves on hedgerows early in the morning
Hello and welcome. you can buy live ladybird lavae, but you need to also make sure you provide a habitat that is suitable for them to reach adulthood, and that is tempting for them to stay in when they do. Ladybirds aren't the only natural predator of aphids though. You might like to persuade hover flies to set up home in your garden, which will probably happen anyway in your case because hover flies like the same nectar rich flowers that bees and butterflies like. Lacewings are supposed to be a good thing too, but I have no idea how you attract them in. How bad is your aphid problem? If it is just a few, then I reckon the plant will take it. If its a proper infestation, then either squash them with your fingers, or turn the hose on them. Aphids are very feeble things. A blast with water, even if it doesn't kill them, will do enough damage to stop them being able to feed. Also, have you read up on decoy plants (plants that pests go for in preference to other plants). There are also some plants that actually repel aphids.
not lot greenfly to be real honest just got them on my kiwi fruit ill try blast of water and see how it goes you never know ladybugs might just pay me visit at some point.hubby said i should just squash them as it wont cost him anything..lol
