Garden Pests

Aphids

If you see soft, oval-shaped insects that hang out together on the buds of your rose bushes, then chances are you have aphids. These insects come in an interesting range of colors, including green, pink, red, and black. Some have wings, some don’t. You can usually get rid of aphids by spraying them with your water hose. You can also wash them off with insecticidal soap.

Aphids have a tendency to curl leaves around themselves and take cover in protected parts of the plant. Many other creatures in your garden will take care of your aphid problem. Lacewings, ladybird beetles, syrphid flies, predatory midges, wasps, lizards, small birds will naturally control aphids. It's easier to keep birds around if you have a water source. Consider wall fountains or bird baths. And if you have aphids, there’s a chance you’ll have ants. Ants like to keep aphid colonies around because of a sweet substance aphids produce. Once you rid yourself of the ants, many of the natural aphid-getters will re-establish themselves and control your aphids.

Common Garden Pests