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Aphids, as tiny as they are, can quickly overwhelm a garden, but the good news is you can get rid of aphids with several natural and effective methods.
If left untreated, these sap-sucking insects attack your plants’ leaves, stems, and roots, potentially causing stunted growth, distorted leaves, and even plant death.
Fortunately, while aphids multiply quickly, they are relatively easy to control with the right approach.
What are Aphids
Aphids are tiny, soft-bodied bugs that drink sap from a plant’s leaves, stems, and roots.
They are found in just about all garden zones. These creatures multiply quickly once they arrive, but all hope is not lost. There are several controls you can use to get rid of them.
Acting quickly when they are first seen is essential, as many generations can occur in a single season.
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How They Reproduce and Spread Quickly
Unfortunately for gardeners, aphids are one pest that doesn’t rely on sex for reproduction. Their life cycle begins when a female gives birth to female nymphs without needing a male.
Since aphids are born as nymphs, they skip the egg stage many other garden pests go through. This allows them to mature and reproduce quickly, leading to faster infestations.
The new generation soon reproduces, and their spread or invasion multiplies rapidly. This is why it is critical to act quickly when spotting them or signs of activity (see below).
What Does Aphids Look Like?
Aphids can appear in several different colors and shapes. Usually, they are about ⅛ inches (3mm) long and have soft, pear-shaped bodies, but some species can be a bit smaller. They can be in various colors: red, yellow, pink, white, black, gray, or tiny green bugs on plants.
They are ordinarily wingless, which means they move very slowly, making it easier to control them. But, if they become overcrowded, hormones trigger the growth of wings in the females to help them quickly travel to other plants to start other colonies.
Some species are almost impossible to see with the naked eye at times, but their signs of activity will be a definite clue that they are on your plants.
There will always be several when you see them, as you’ll never see a single aphid on a plant. They travel and arrive in quantity.
Most species have two cornicles (short tubes) at the end of their abdomen, which resemble horns.
Thankfully, aphids are not harmful to humans, but they are definitely a nuisance in the garden.
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Different Types of Aphids
Though all aphids feed on plants, there are over 5,000 species, some specific to certain plants such as:
- Cabbage aphids
- Corn Leaf aphids
- Melon/Cotton Aphids
- Potato aphids
- Bean aphids
- Peach aphids
Signs of Activity or Damage Caused by Aphids
Nymphs and adults feed on plant juices by sucking it out. They attack all parts of a plant – the leaves, stems, buds, flowers, fruits, and roots- and are commonly attracted to new growth, so this is a great place to start to look.
Common signs of aphids on plants are:
- Puckered, curling leaves
- Discolored or yellowing leaves
- Stunted growth of leaf tips or new growth
- Sticky honeydew or sugary liquid on plants (This is the waste or feces of the aphids)
- Ants crawling on plants or around on the ground below plants (attracted by the honeydew)
- Tiny insects that move slowly
- A sooty gray mold (often caused from the honeydew excretions)
- Galls on roots when plants are pulled from the soil
Natural Predators of Aphids
Fortunately, aphids have several natural predators that can help get rid of them. Some of which are good to have around in your garden.
To name a few are:
- Assassin bugs
- Big-eyed bugs
- Earwigs
- Ground Beetles
- Hoverflies
- Ladybugs
- Parasitic Wasps
- Praying Mantis
- Robber Flies
- Soldier Beetles
- Spiders
Natural Controls to Get Rid of Aphids in Your Garden
1. Strong Spray of Water
One of the easiest ways to get rid of them is to use a water hose and spray them with a jet of water. You can do this when you see the signs of them or actual aphids on your plants.
Doing so does not kill them instantly; it washes them off, and they fall to the ground, often not finding their way back onto your plants.
2. Floating Row Covers
A third way to control aphids is to use floating row covers over plants that don’t require pollination, such as cabbages, broccoli, kale, potatoes, peas, and beans.
If your vegetables require pollination, keep the covers on until they begin to flower before removing them. This will help keep aphids away and give your plants time to flourish before they can arrive.
3. Avoid Excessive Use of High Nitrogen Fertilizers
Nitrogen feeds leaves, helping to produce new, tender growth. Since aphids are attracted to new growth, use nitrogen sparingly.
4. Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is an organic powder made from the remains of crushed fossilized diatoms. https://www.saferbrand.com/articles/what-is-diatomaceous-earth
The powder is tiny, sharp shards that cut their bodies (exoskeletons), drying them out.
Sprinkle the powder over the leaves and stems of your plants. It’s not so easy to get on the underside of leaves, but it helps a lot.
6. Insecticidal Soap
This insecticidal soap spray meets organic requirements and can be easily applied to the top and bottom of leaves. The only drawback is that it has to come in contact with the aphids, but it is effective when it does.
7. Neem Oil
Neem oil is an organically approved fungicide insecticide spray. It sprays from a bottle, so spraying on all sides of the leaves is easy. It, too, has to come in contact with them, so remember to cover leaves and stems on all sides.
Note: Avoid applying DE or Neem Oil when your plants are blooming. Even though these products are organic, they kill pollinators such as bees and butterflies when they come in contact with them.
8. Crush by Hand
Since aphids don’t fly and move slowly, they are easily crushed. Use garden gloves and carefully rub your fingers across where you see them. This helps crush not only the live aphids but also their eggs.
How to Prevent Aphids
1. Proper Watering
Aphids or any garden pests are often attracted to unhealthy and stressed plants. Therefore, water regularly and strive to improve and have healthy soil for your plants to grow in.
2. Attract Beneficial Insects
As mentioned above, aphids have many natural predators, including ladybugs, lacewings, parasite wasps, and others that feed on them. So, attracting these insects to your garden is critical.
To do so, provide nearby flowers that attract pollinators and a small water source.
Flowers that attract natural predators of aphids:
- Lavender
- Calendula
- Nasturtium
- Marigolds
- Lemongrass
- Petunias
3 Use Companion Planting
Companion planting is an excellent way to lower the threat of aphids. This involves planting different plants together that will enhance each other and confuse aphids and other garden pests when finding their chosen plant.
Different plants give off different smells that aphids don’t like, making nearby favorable plants less attractive.
Common herbs & plants that naturally repel aphids are:
4. Plant a Trap Crop to Attract Them
A trap crop is sacrificing a plant or plants that are used to attract aphids so they stay off your prized plants.
It’s another form of companion planting since it works best when decoy plants are planted near the plants you wish to protect.
Most pests, especially aphids, will begin on the outer rows and spread to additional rows, so it’s best to plant your trap crops outside of what you will be protecting.
Some good trap crops include:
- Nasturtium
- Nettles
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
- Aster
- Calendula
- Sunflowers
- Amaranth
5. Use a Polyethylene Mulch Film
Though not natural, this works well. Before planting, cover the soil with reflective silver polyethylene mulch. Young seedlings are less likely to be attacked and more likely to thrive when the glare of the silver metallic plastic mulch covers the soil around them.
The shine of the reflection makes it difficult for aphids and other garden pests to find them.
This film is excellent for transplanting cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, beans, etc. However, it loses effectiveness once the plants are larger and cover most of the shiny glare. By then, your vegetables will be thriving.
6. Control the Ants in Your Garden
Aphids and ants are attracted to each other. Ants are known to protect aphids since they are attracted to the sticky honeydew aphids leave behind.
They are not necessarily friends, but ants will go to great lengths to ensure they can feast on this honeydew. Ants have been known to bite off the wings of aphids to keep them from being able to fly to other plants.
The good news is that ants can also be controlled naturally in your garden.
7. Use Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) is available almost anywhere and works well for making insecticidal soap. It comes in two strengths: 70 and 95 percent, with 70 percent being the most common. Either one will work, but it should be diluted differently depending on the strength.
- 70 percent – Mix equal parts water and alcohol.
- 95 percent – Mix 1 part alcohol and 1 ½ part water.
INSTRUCTIONS: Mix and pour into a spray bottle and spray only the area where aphids are present. Don’t spray the entire plant. This only works when aphids come in contact with it.
I recommend doing this early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Of course, it’s also key to test an area before using a lot of it on your valuable plants.
Aphids may be small, but their impact on garden plants can be significant if left untreated. By learning to identify and address aphid infestation, you can protect your garden using natural and simple preventative methods. With the right approach, controlling aphids is manageable, ensuring you have healthy, thriving plants throughout the season.
Even More Garden Pests Articles:
- Black and Yellow Garden Spiders
- How to Naturally Get Rid of Yellow Jackets
- 5 Ways to Naturally Control Cabbage Worms
- 15 Ways to Control Tomato Hornworms without Pesticides
- How to Get Rid of Squash Vine Borers
- How to Identify and Get Rid of Squash Bugs
- How to Get Rid of Slugs in a Garden
- Get Rid of Earwigs and Protect Your Plants with These Simple Tricks
Tell me, what method do you think sounds best for your garden?
Dianne Hadorn is the owner of Hidden Springs Homestead, nestled in the hills of East Tennessee. A Master Gardener and lifelong homesteader, she teaches families how to grow real food, preserve it with confidence, and depend less on the grocery store. Through her practical, down-to-earth approach, Dianne has become a trusted source for beginners who want to build a sustainable lifestyle and fill their pantries with food they’ve grown themselves.