Aphid Control: How To Get Rid of Aphids

This page is an Aphid control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Aphids. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Aphids.

When it comes to growing plants in your lawn or landscaped areas, there's one pest that rears it's head time and again-- the ever-present aphid. These soft-bodied insects attack many plants, leaving them weakened and prone to disease.

Aphids are a fairly common parasitic insect that likes to feed on all types of ornamental plants but they can be particularly harmful to Hibiscus plants. These pear-shaped insects enjoy the rich and highly nutritious juices present inside the leaves of the plant. Apart from that, they also simply love to feast on the succulent new growth that the plant puts out as it grows older.

Aphids and ants have a mutually beneficial partnership which can cause a whole lot of trouble on your property. Ants herd aphids to the best possible feeding places much like a shepherd would herd sheep to the best pastures. In return for giving aphids plant sap to consume they provide ants honeydew to feed on. Ants also protect aphids from intruding insects as a result of this alliance.

What this means is the bigger the Aphid problem you have on your lawn and around your home, the bigger the chance you're going to have to deal with ant infestations as well. This makes controlling Aphids crucial or else the plants you are growing are going to be subject to significant damage due to aphids taking advantage of the sap available.

If you have noticed Aphids damaging your ornamental plants, you will need to act fast to eliminate the infestation. Follow our DIY treatment guide below to learn more about this sap-sucking pest and how to best clear them from your yard using our effective professional-grade products.

Identification

The first step in tackling an Aphid problem is to first know what aphids look like. This can be tough because Aphids can be quite tiny and they may be confused with other insects.

• Aphids measure out to about 6/100th of an inch long and their coloring ranges across a spectrum going from yellowish-green all the way to green-black, which enables them to merge into the background of plants the feast upon.
• They have soft, pear-shaped bodies.
• They can have transparent wings, but more often than not they don't have wings at all.
• The distinguishing characteristic that aphids share is a unique tube-like body part that sticks out from the rear of their bodies called cornicles.
• They will also cluster together near plant leaves. A clear giveaway that you have Aphids on your hands is if you find them bunched up around plants that you are growing.
• When closely observed you will notice that they have three pairs of legs and two piercing and sucking mouthparts.

Use the description and image above to help you to properly identify Aphids on your property.

Inspection

Once you have confirmed the pests you are encounter to be Aphids, you can move forward with an inspection to determine how big of an infestation you have and how severe plants (like Hibiscus and others) are overrun with them. Check your plants and monitor them in general on a regular basis for any aphid activity so you can catch infestations early.

Where To Inspect

Look for aphids on new shoots, on buds, along stems or underside of leaves. Aphids move slowly and often are found feeding on plants in large groups. Some may have wings, which is a sign that the colony is about to move on to new plants.

What To Look For

Aphids are soft-bodied insects that can be found usually clumped together on various parts of healthy plants. You can also check to see if aphid activity is present is mold or fungus that has grown on your ornamental plants. This is often due to the excretions of sap that aphids release known as honeydew which is clear and sticky. Mold or fungus tends to grow on the honeydew and this also serves as an attractive snack for insects such as ants or flies.

Another way you can inspect for aphids if you don't see them is to get a piece of white paper or cloth and hold it under a suspected plant. Shake the plant and likely aphids will fall on to the paper and you will be able to see them.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Aphid activity it is time to begin treatment. Remember to first read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Our top recommendation for treating Aphids is Dominion 2L, this is a product that contains the active ingredient Imidacloprid and can safely be applied on your plants to treat large to small numbers of aphids effecting your plant growth. The product also works systemically, working its way through the foliage and root systems of plants to stop Aphids from further damaging the plant.

Step 1 - Measure Out Dominion 2L for Application

Determine how much Dominion 2L you will need by calculating the square footage of the treatment area. To do this, measure and multiply the treatment area length times the width (length x width = square footage). Dominion should be mixed at a rate of 0.015 fl. oz. in a gallon of water to treat 1,000 sq. ft. So for example, if you had measured a 2,000 sq. ft. area for treatment, you would need to mix 0.030 fl. oz. of Dominion 2L in at least 2 gallons of water.

Fill your sprayer with half the required amount of water and then add in the appropriate measured amount of Dominion 2L based on your calculations. Fill the sprayer with the remaining half of water and then agitate the sprayer until the solution is well mixed. You are now ready to spray.

Step 2 - Apply Dominion 2L to Ornamental Plants

Apply the Dominion 2L to the foliage, spraying to wet but not to the point of runoff. Use a fan nozzle spray for even coverage. Don't forget to treat the underside of leaves as these are where Aphids commonly hide. Dominion 2L remains effective for up to 90 days after application, but you can reapply as needed.

Prevention

After treating the Aphid infestation, you will want to make sure they don't return. To prevent aphids, it's best to be diligent in monitoring your plants and checking for activity and spraying your plants when necessary. You could also grow certain plants that will attract beneficial insects which are predators to aphids such as ladybugs.

Ladybugs love plants like flowers, and plants with frilly leaves like wild carrot, dill, hibiscus, and parsley. Growing plants with strong scents such as herbs are great for keeping aphids away as they don't like those strong odors. It's not for certain you won't 100% have aphid problems but as long as you follow these tips, aphid issues will be minimized and you will be ready if they do show up again.

Dominion 2L can also be used as a preventative treatment as it remains effective for up to 90 days. Spray your plants quarterly for year-long control from Aphid damage.

Key Takeaways

What Are Aphids?

• Aphids are a sap-sucking, plant-damaging pest inflict serious damage to a variety of ornamental plants, like hibiscus. They come in a variety of colors and can appear on all types of plants and ornamentals.
• Aphids feasting on plants can result in deformed leaves or even the death of young plants via the aphids sucking the plant dry.

How To Get Rid of Aphids From Your Yard and Ornamental Garden

• Our recommended product for treating Aphids on your ornamental plants is Dominion 2L.
• Mix Dominion 2L with one gallon of water (or follow directions on the label for proper or more specific application rates) in a hand pump sprayer. Spray plant to the point of runoff making sure not to forget to spray on the underside of leaves and all parts of the branches where aphids are known to hide out.

Preventing Aphid Reinfestation

• After successful control, a preventative application of Dominion 2L will protect your plants from possible Aphid reinfestations.