From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work - certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful
Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged
with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill
them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work - certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water. Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use. It
is completely biodegradable. Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart). Make a gooey
paste. Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them. Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off. But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful
Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged
with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill
them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work -
certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water. Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use. It
is completely biodegradable. Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart). Make a gooey
paste. Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them. Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off. But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

it is very hard to kill off all ants but it may
help to knock them back temporarily. personally, i
don't try to control ants here unless they are trying
to set up a new home in the house.

the more inert dilute soap spray may do the job
for both the ants and the aphids at least to knock
them back and then the ladybugs will help keep things
under control.

it will help a lot to learn how to keep lady bugs
around and to encourage other lady bug predators. i
don't see aphids here often.


songbird
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/21/24 21:01, songbird wrote:

T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful
Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged
with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill
them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work - >>> certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water. Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use. It
is completely biodegradable. Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart). Make a gooey
paste. Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them. Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off. But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

it is very hard to kill off all ants but it may
help to knock them back temporarily. personally, i
don't try to control ants here unless they are trying
to set up a new home in the house.

the more inert dilute soap spray may do the job
for both the ants and the aphids at least to knock
them back and then the ladybugs will help keep things
under control.

it will help a lot to learn how to keep lady bugs
around and to encourage other lady bug predators. i
don't see aphids here often.

songbird

Hi Songbird,

The soapy water plus the pressure spray will knock
them off the plant. Because they will have lost
their wings, it is very hard for them to crawl
back up. And the soapy water will drown them.

Ants that are farming aphids will attack and kill
lady bugs. If you put your hand on a stem full
of aphids that are ant farmed, the ants will
immediately bit you.

My #2 above works by the workers taking the borax
back to and feeding the queen it. It is non-toxic
(it destroys their digestive system) so they can't
get immune to it. Think Roach Proof for ants.

Since it is slow, it will take a few days, but it will
wipe out the entire colony. But other neighboring
ants will eventually move in. Take a while though.

The ants have to go before lady bugs will work.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T




--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

songbird wrote:
...

it will help a lot to learn how to keep lady bugs
around and to encourage other lady bug predators. i
don't see aphids here often.

that should read aphid predators... duh...


songbird
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful
Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged with >> aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work -
certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.-a Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.-a It
is completely biodegradable.-a Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart).-a Make a gooey
paste.-a Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them.-a Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off.-a But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T

Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I have used Safer's Soap without any real success.

There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but not really noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird feeder up that attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it does work. Mentioned honey to the
wife and she immediately thought of some old corn syrup which we think would work.

I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some Boraxo &
sugar underneath the plant. I'm going to check on it's effect on plants
first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put it along the boarder of my garage for wood ants.

Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all winter long in
our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the 'M' or 'W' on their heads, depending on which way your looking. Now, very few if any around.

The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids that I can see.

Thanks!
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/22/2024 12:01 AM, songbird wrote:

T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful
Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged
with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill
them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work - >>> certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water. Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use. It
is completely biodegradable. Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart). Make a gooey
paste. Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them. Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off. But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

it is very hard to kill off all ants but it may
help to knock them back temporarily. personally, i
don't try to control ants here unless they are trying
to set up a new home in the house.

the more inert dilute soap spray may do the job
for both the ants and the aphids at least to knock
them back and then the ladybugs will help keep things
under control.

it will help a lot to learn how to keep lady bugs
around and to encourage other lady bug predators. i
don't see aphids here often.

songbird

I've seen a lot to aphids on my lupines too. I may have some plants that are hosting the aphids more than others. It's just that the honeysuckle was so beautiful when blooming as they do all summer long, I hate them getting shut down before they get started. Thanks.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/23/2024 11:22 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful
Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged with >>> aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work - >>> certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.-a Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.-a It
is completely biodegradable.-a Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart).-a Make a gooey
paste.-a Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them.-a Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off.-a But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T

Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I have used Safer's Soap without any real success.

There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but not really noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird feeder up that attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it does work. Mentioned honey to the wife and she immediately thought of some old corn syrup which we think would work.

I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some Boraxo & sugar underneath the plant. I'm going to check on it's effect on plants first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put it along the boarder of my garage for wood ants.

Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all winter long in our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the 'M' or 'W' on their heads, depending on which way your looking. Now, very few if any around.

The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids that I can see.

Thanks!

I mentioned BORAXO, but really meant BORAX.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/23/2024 10:47 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/23/2024 11:22 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some
beautiful Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been
getting ravaged with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on,
these critters kill them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't
work - certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.-a Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.-a It
is completely biodegradable.-a Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart).-a Make a gooey
paste.-a Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them.-a Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off.-a But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T

Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I have
used Safer's Soap without any real success.

There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but not
really noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird feeder up
that attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it does work.
Mentioned honey to the wife and she immediately thought of some old
corn syrup which we think would work.

I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some Boraxo
& sugar underneath the plant. I'm going to check on it's effect on
plants first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put it along the
boarder of my garage for wood ants.

Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all winter
long in our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the 'M' or 'W' on
their heads, depending on which way your looking. Now, very few if any
around.

The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids that I
can see.

Thanks!

I mentioned BORAXO, but really meant BORAX.

Add some diatomaceous earth to the mix , it abrades the waxy coating
on hard shell insects and they dry to death .
--
Snag
It's great to be straight !
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

Snag wrote:

On 6/23/2024 10:47 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/23/2024 11:22 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has
been getting ravaged with aphids. Just as soon as the
blossoms come on, these critters kill them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that
didn't work - certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.-a Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.-a It
is completely biodegradable.-a Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart).-a Make a gooey
paste.-a Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them.-a Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off.-a But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T

Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I
have used Safer's Soap without any real success.

There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but
not really noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird
feeder up that attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it
does work. Mentioned honey to the wife and she immediately
thought of some old corn syrup which we think would work.

I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some
Boraxo & sugar underneath the plant. I'm going to check on it's
effect on plants first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put
it along the boarder of my garage for wood ants.

Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all
winter long in our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the
'M' or 'W' on their heads, depending on which way your looking.
Now, very few if any around.

The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids
that I can see.

Thanks!

I mentioned BORAXO, but really meant BORAX.

Add some diatomaceous earth to the mix , it abrades the waxy coating
on hard shell insects and they dry to death .

i don't know about degrading but it's tiny chips of sharp silicon and
cuts the carapace then they die of dehydration as you say. Dust the
plant all over with it dry and it works best. Also kills fleas and
bedbugs.

Harmless unless you breathe a lot in. (causes silicosis of the lungs).
Just dig out a covid mask and wear it properly! No gaps...
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/23/2024 11:58 AM, cshenk wrote:

Snag wrote:

On 6/23/2024 10:47 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/23/2024 11:22 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some
beautiful Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has
been getting ravaged with aphids. Just as soon as the
blossoms come on, these critters kill them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that
didn't work - certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.-a Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.-a It
is completely biodegradable.-a Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart).-a Make a gooey
paste.-a Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them.-a Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off.-a But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T

Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I
have used Safer's Soap without any real success.

There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but
not really noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird
feeder up that attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it
does work. Mentioned honey to the wife and she immediately
thought of some old corn syrup which we think would work.

I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some
Boraxo & sugar underneath the plant. I'm going to check on it's
effect on plants first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put
it along the boarder of my garage for wood ants.

Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all
winter long in our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the
'M' or 'W' on their heads, depending on which way your looking.
Now, very few if any around.

The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids
that I can see.

Thanks!

I mentioned BORAXO, but really meant BORAX.

Add some diatomaceous earth to the mix , it abrades the waxy coating
on hard shell insects and they dry to death .

i don't know about degrading but it's tiny chips of sharp silicon and
cuts the carapace then they die of dehydration as you say. Dust the
plant all over with it dry and it works best. Also kills fleas and
bedbugs.

Harmless unless you breathe a lot in. (causes silicosis of the lungs).
Just dig out a covid mask and wear it properly! No gaps...

I said "abrade , to scrape or wear away by friction or erosion" , not "degrade" . Close enough to get the message across I guess .
--
Snag
It's great to be straight !
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/23/24 08:22, Wilson wrote:

On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some
beautiful Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been
getting ravaged with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on,
these critters kill them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't
work - certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.-a Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.-a It
is completely biodegradable.-a Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart).-a Make a gooey
paste.-a Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them.-a Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off.-a But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T

Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I have
used Safer's Soap without any real success.

Safer Soap is over hyped. And dish washing detergent will
work just fine. I use the seventh Gen free and clear
because it does not have perfumes and is totally
biodegradable. I have even killed squash bugs with it.
It is great on flies and black widows too.

There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but not
really noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird feeder up
that attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it does work.
Mentioned honey to the wife and she immediately thought of some old corn syrup which we think would work.

Ants LOVE corn syrup! You know, I wonder which is cheaper corn
syrup or honey. Ant love the corn syrup in Coca Cola.

I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some Boraxo & sugar underneath the plant.

You don't have to put it under the plant. Ant will find it,
even 10 feet away. That being said, I have wiped it on
the leaves and stems of my Goji berries. No harm was done.

I'm going to check on it's effect on plants
first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put it along the boarder of
my garage for wood ants.

Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all winter long
in our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the 'M' or 'W' on their
heads, depending on which way your looking. Now, very few if any around.

I do not know what kind of lady bugs we have, but I know they
will bite you if provoked.

The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids that I
can see.

Thanks!

--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/23/2024 8:12 PM, T wrote:

On 6/23/24 08:22, Wilson wrote:

On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful >>>> Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged
with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill >>>> them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work - >>>> certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.-a Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.-a It
is completely biodegradable.-a Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart).-a Make a gooey
paste.-a Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them.-a Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off.-a But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T

Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I have
used Safer's Soap without any real success.

Safer Soap is over hyped.-a And dish washing detergent will
work just fine.-a I use the seventh Gen free and clear
because-a it does not have perfumes and is totally
biodegradable.-a I have even killed squash bugs with it.
It is great on flies and black widows too.

There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but not really >> noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird feeder up that
attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it does work. Mentioned honey >> to the wife and she immediately thought of some old corn syrup which we
think would work.

Ants LOVE corn syrup!-a You know, I wonder which is cheaper corn
syrup or honey.-a Ant love the corn syrup in Coca Cola.

Pretty sure corn syrup is cheaper, besides I have some corn syrup 'lite' I bought by accident when I was trying to make Sea Foam Candy - failed.

I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some Boraxo &
sugar underneath the plant.

You don't have to put it under the plant.-a Ant will find it,
even 10 feet away.-a That being said, I have wiped it on
the leaves and stems of my Goji berries.-a No harm was done.

I'm going to check on it's effect on plants first, but I've seen not
die-off where I've put it along the boarder of my garage for wood ants.

Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all winter long in >> our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the 'M' or 'W' on their heads, >> depending on which way your looking. Now, very few if any around.

I do not know what kind of lady bugs we have, but I know they
will bite you if provoked.

The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids that I can >> see.

Thanks!

I will continue the battle!
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/23/2024 12:04 PM, Snag wrote:

On 6/23/2024 10:47 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/23/2024 11:22 AM, Wilson wrote:

On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:

On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:

I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful >>>>> Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged >>>>> with aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill >>>>> them.

I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work >>>>> - certainly not fast enough.

Any organic suggestions I can use?

Hi Wilson,

Yes there are.

Two things you have to do.

1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.-a Seventh
Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.-a It
is completely biodegradable.-a Get one of those hose
attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.

2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.
Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water
and really cheap honey (Walmart).-a Make a gooey
paste.-a Apply all over the place.

Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs
on them.-a Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't
just fly off.-a But the ants must go first as they will kill
the lady bugs to protect the aphids.

Death to aphids!
Death to squash bugs!
Death to earwigs!

-T

Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I have
used Safer's Soap without any real success.

There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but not really >>> noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird feeder up that
attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it does work. Mentioned
honey to the wife and she immediately thought of some old corn syrup
which we think would work.

I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some Boraxo & >>> sugar underneath the plant. I'm going to check on it's effect on plants >>> first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put it along the boarder of >>> my garage for wood ants.

Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all winter long >>> in our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the 'M' or 'W' on their
heads, depending on which way your looking. Now, very few if any around. >>>
The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids that I can >>> see.

Thanks!

I mentioned BORAXO, but really meant BORAX.

-a Add some diatomaceous earth to the mix , it abrades the waxy coating on hard shell insects and they dry to death .

I do have some diatomaceous earth on hand. My experience with it is that
it's hard to tell if it's doing it's job. Sometimes, I grow impatient with 'organic' solutions. sigh
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From Newsgroup: rec.gardens.edible

On 6/24/24 06:53, Wilson wrote:

Sometimes, I grow impatient with 'organic' solutions. sigh

Slow gets the queen and wipes out the colony.

If what you are after is the sight of a bunch of dead
ants, just spray them with vinegar.


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