My peppers but only peppers are full of aphids and ants! is this a way to get rid of aphids?
How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally
Introduction
Aphids, those tiny, pear-shaped, sap-sucking pests, appear every spring to feast on your plants' tender new leaves. Not to fear; you don't have to resort to toxic chemicals to save your garden.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Steps
Step One
Examine your garden regularly for signs of aphids. Look for clusters of the little bugs on new growth and flower buds, as well as on the curled and twisted leaves.
Step Two
Remove the aphids by hand (wearing gloves) or using a sharp stream of water.
Step Three
Cut away and dispose of infested foliage.
Step Four
Capture flying aphids by placing yellow sticky traps near infected plants.
Step Five
Make a nontoxic pesticide by mixing 1 c. vegetable oil with 1 tbsp. liquid dish washing soap. Add 1 1/2 tsp. solution per cup of warm water to a hand held spray bottle.
Step Six
Hit the aphids directly with above mixture and spray entire plant thoroughly.
Step Seven
Introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs or green lacewings, to your garden to feed on the aphids. Both can be bought from any garden store or online.
Step Eight
Avoid planting aphid-attracting plants, such as birch trees, and instead grow plants such as white sweet clover, spearmint, sweet fennel and Queen Anne's lace, which attract and house the lacewings, ladybugs and other insects that feed on aphids.
Step Nine
Rid your garden of ants. Ants love to eat "honeydew," the sugary sap secreted by aphids, and will keep the aphids alive by fending off predators and carrying the sap makers to other plants.
Tips & Warnings
* Keep your plants healthy. Your garden's best defense against any pest is nutrient-rich, living soil and adequate water and light.
* Fertilize sparingly, using slow-release organic fertilizer to ensure steady, not explosive growth. Too many new shoots will not only tax the plant, but may attract more aphids to the succulent leaves.
Overall Things You'll Need
* Sticky Traps
* Lacewings
* Spray Bottles
* Dish washing Detergent
* Pruning Shears
* Ladybugs
* Garden Hoses And Attachments
* Vegetable Oils
* Fertilizers
How to Make Your Own Aphid Repellent
introduction
Say "So long" to those pesky aphids with this quick and easy home remedy.
Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Steps
Step One
Mix together one tablespoon of liquid dish soap and one cup cooking oil.
Step Two
Blend two and one half teaspoons of this mixture with one cup of water.
Step Three
Pour contents into a spray bottle.
Step Four
Spray your flowers and plants.
Tips & Warnings
* Use this repellent up to every ten days.
* Use this repellent indoors or outdoors.
* This mixture may burn tender plants.