How to stop aphids from wreaking havoc in your garden – from spotting the signs of an attack to natural remedies

As warmer spring weather arrives, many Brits are heading outside to garden.

However, the blooming flowers and fertile vegetable gardens may also see the return of some unwanted visitors: aphids.

The tiny sap-sucking insects, also known as greenflies and blackflies, can wreak havoc on your garden if not managed properly.

They damage plants by sucking the juices from the leaves and stems, with large infestations producing honeydew, which attracts ants and encourages fungal growth.

Here, FEMAIL looks at how to protect your garden from the most common plant pests…

1. THE SIGNS OF AN Aphid Attack

Before you can start combating the aphid attack, you must realize that you are dealing with an aphid.

According to Plant adviceAll plants are potential targets and the pests are prolific in warm weather and humid conditions. Soil that is too rich can also make your garden very susceptible to pests.

Fortunately, the symptoms are easy to recognize: the growth of your plants will be stunted and disrupted.

A second telltale sign of an aphid infestation is that the foil will be covered in a sticky substance known as honeydew.

The honeydew often causes black sooty mold to grow on the leaves, reducing the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.

It’s important to address the problem as soon as you notice it because aphids have the ability to spread plant viruses as they move from one to another.

2. USE STAIRS

The first advice from the garden experts is to stick yellow traps under glass and above plants.

Aphids are attracted to the color, so this will help you catch them as they fly.

The pests fly into the sticky traps and get stuck there. On Amazon you can get a pack of 12 for less than £3.

However, many people prefer to use green and organic techniques to get rid of the insects.

3. USE NATURAL PREDATORY FISH

Plantadvies also advises using natural enemies, such as ladybugs and lacewings.

If you can attract them to your garden, they will feed on the aphid colonies and solve the problem for you.

To attract hoverflies, which eat aphids, plant French marigolds near the plants you are concerned about.

The hoverflies also lay eggs and the hatching larvae also feast on the annoying aphids.

Marigolds are also great for attracting lacewings, another beneficial predator.

4. ORGANIC CONTROL

If none of the above works, another tip is to make a concoction that controls the aphids organically.

Boil rhubarb leaves, crushed garlic and chili powder together and let cool.

Rhubarb leaves are semi-poisonous to aphids, but it is also important to remember that they are poisonous to humans: they are not poisonous to the touch, but be careful not to ingest them.

Another “instant results” technique is to simply squeeze the pests between your thumb and forefinger and rub them off the plants.

5. USE SPRAYS

Finally, if you just want a quick fix and aren’t too concerned about using green techniques, you can opt for sprays.

According to Plant Advice, those containing bifenthrin, pyrethrum, derris, imidacloprid or pirimicarb are the best choice.

These last ingredients are recommended because they do not harm beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs.

So if you have a few options to choose from, these methods can help keep the pesky pests from disrupting your beautiful spring garden.