Aphids

How do I know that my landscape has aphids?

Large populations cause curling, yellowing, and distortion of leaves and stunting of shoots; they can also produce large quantities of a sticky substance known as honeydew, which often turns black with the growth of a sooty mold fungus. Some aphid species inject a toxin into plants, which further distorts growth. A few species cause gall formations. Aphids infest and feed on the shadier portions of trees. Signs of aphid infestation are curling and distortion of leaves.

What will happen to my landscape? Aphids are slow moving, rapid reproducing feeding insects. They do not physically harm trees and shrubs, however their intense feeding can weaken a tree causing it to produce less food and make it susceptible to other problems.

What can I do about aphids? If you see a section of the plant containing aphids, snip it off and dispose of it. It doesn’t cure the problem but it will slow the advance. A combination of cultural and chemical control is often required to control aphids. Most local hardware stores carry insecticides that will control aphids. Because these sprays can cause injury to certain plants, read the label thoroughly before using and apply according to the directions. Depending on the severity of the damage, more than one insecticide application may be required for complete control. Combating aphids can be a timely and unpleasant weekend task!

How can Natural Way help? Prevention is the key in controlling aphids. Here at Natural Way we have certified professionals who are used to preventing and controlling insects like aphids. Our 6 Point Protection Program will provide several critically timed sprays to the landscape that will help control aphids, improve the health of your trees and shrubs and minimize damage.

Even though aphids will not generally kill a plant by themselves, the plant or tree will become more susceptible to other problems and its appearance will be unsightly.  

Whatever you decide, the longer your landscape is left untreated, the greater the chance the affected trees and shrubs will undergo unrecoverable damage. Your landscape represents a growing investment worth protecting.