Aphid Management Guide

Taking care of your plants means protecting them from pests and diseases. One garden pest that is notorious for causing problems is the aphid. When these bugs get established in gardens, their feeding can damage plants. We’ve gathered information to help you eliminate an aphid infestation. 

Aphids are pear-shaped insects with long antennae. They will feed on a variety of plants in your home and garden, including flowers, fruit, and vegetable plants. Different species have preferred host plants. Aphids feed on the sap from plants, weakening them. Their secretions can also lead to mold growth. They are often spotted on the underside of leaves. These pests can multiply quickly, which can make it difficult to control infestations. Implementing preventative techniques and using pest control products can help to protect your plants from aphids. 

Keep Your Plants Healthy: The healthier your plants are, the less susceptible to pests and diseases they will be. Make sure your plants are receiving the right amount of water and sunlight. Use healthy soil when planting them. It’s best to avoid using soil from your yard.

Check Plants Regularly for Aphids: Checking your plants regularly for aphids and other pests can help you identify a problem early, which will make it easier to resolve the issue. Be sure to check the underside of leaves since this is where aphids like to hide. Before bringing a new plant home, you’ll also want to examine it for aphids or signs of their activity.

Watch for Signs of an Infestation: In addition to looking for pests, you’ll also want to check for other signs of an infestation.

• When aphids feed, they can cause leaves to curl, yellowing, or other discoloration.
• They can also cause plant growth to be stunted.
• Aphids secrete honeydew, which is a clear sticky substance.
• Ants feed on honeydew, so an increase in ant sightings could be another sign that aphids are present.

Remove Damaged Plants: If you notice plants that have damage from aphids, you’ll want to prune the plants, removing the damaged or infested part. If significant damage has occurred, it may be best to remove the plant from the garden. This will help to reduce the chance of bugs spreading to your other plants. Isolating new plants can also prevent pest spreading.

Use a Row Cover: Row covers and other physical barriers can help to keep aphids away from your plants. Using a lightweight cover is best for aphids and other plant pests. You’ll want to leave the plants uncovered when blooming to allow for pollination. 

Treating your plants with an insecticide spray can help to control and prevent aphids. Maggie’s Farm offers two products that can help to get rid of aphids.

Plant-Based Insecticide Sprays

Our 3-in-1 Garden Spray and Vegetable Garden Insect & Disease Control spray are labeled for aphids and other garden pests. Our 3-in-1 Garden Spray is formulated using plant essential oils as the active ingredients. It kills aphids and will provide residual repellency protection. It can be used on flowers, houseplants, shrubs, vegetables, herbs, and other edible and ornamental plants. Our Vegetable Garden Insect & Disease Control spray is formulated with pyrethrins. It kills and controls aphids and other garden pests. It can be used on vegetables, flowers, ornamental trees and shrubs, and fruit and nut trees.

Application Tips

It’s best to treat plants at the first sighting of insects or damage from insects. Apply the spray in the early morning or in the evening. Thoroughly spray all areas of the plant, especially the underside of leaves. Work to contact as many pests as possible. Our 3-in-1 Garden Spray may be applied every 5–7 days when insects are present. It can be used up to the day of harvest. Our Vegetable Garden Insect & Disease Control spray can be applied every 7–10 days, but it should not be reapplied within 3 days unless you are dealing with a severe infestation. It can be used up to the day before harvest.

Having hungry bugs feeding on your plants can be frustrating. Implementing preventative measures and using the right pest control products can help to control an aphid problem.