How to Control Aphids

Kill'em All

How do I Kill Aphids? Aphids are out and destroying trees and shrubs. There are a few ways to kill aphids and prevent them from coming back. 

Ladybugs

Ladybugs are a great natural solution to controlling aphids in your garden and landscape. There are a couple of ways to ensure that ladybugs stay in your yard or garden. First, release the ladybugs before sunrise or after dark because they navigate using the sun. The second way is to cool them off in the fridge before releasing them. They are less active then. The third way to keep your ladybugs close is to water the garden or area where you release them. Ladybugs tend to stay and drink the moisture on the leaves. After a few days you will see fewer ladybugs as the adults die off. However, after about a week you may notice some odd looking black bugs with an orange stripe across their backs. These are ladybug larvae and will eat a ton of aphids. So don't worry you haven't been invaded. It's just the circle of ladybug life in action. 

Organic Controls

For an organic solution, Neem Oil is a great option that will kill aphids on contact and also helps with many diseases like powdery mildew and black spot. Insecticidal Soap is another great organic solution to control aphids in the garden. While this product will kill any aphids the spray contacts. It will not provide any residual control and re-application will be necessary. 

Chemical Control

If you choose to use chemical insecticides to kill aphids, we recommend both Zamzows Z-One Insect Control to kill the aphids immediately and Zamzows Tree and Shrub Systemic Insecticide for long-term protection.  

Z-One (ready to spray and concentrate) provides an environmentally friendly, contact and residual insect control for up to four weeks. This insecticide kills hundreds of types of insects which destroy lawns, roses, flowers, trees, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Z-One comes in three convenient sizes of bottles: a 16 oz. concentrate, 32 oz. ready to spray, and a 32.oz hose-end spray.

Prevention

If you want to stop aphids from coming back to feed on your trees and shrubs, as well as provide protection against other boring and sucking insects, use Zamzows Tree and Shrub Systemic Insecticide. This lasts up to 12 months. No spraying is necessary, just mix at the rate of 1 oz. per gallon of water for every inch of diameter of the trunk at chest height. Simply pour at the base of the plant. This systemic insecticide is not an immediate solution to kill aphids because it takes time for the insecticide to work its way throughout the tree. If you want to kill aphids immediately, use Z-One spray. The benefit to this long-term solution is that it will not wash off and lasts 12 months.

Feed Properly

To give trees and shrubs the absolute best opportunity to be healthy and aphid free, apply Zamzows Thrive. This will provide nutrients as well as needed trace minerals to the plants. Aphids do not suck their food from plants, they rasp it. Meaning they scrape their food from the outer walls of the leaves. Thrive helps build up the outer walls of the plant's leaves making it harder for the aphids to eat. Like most insects, aphids are opportunists. They are more likely to go to a plant where it is easier to get their food.