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HELP WITH APHIDS!!!!

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drgonzo
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HELP WITH APHIDS!!!! Empty HELP WITH APHIDS!!!!

Post  Steven Sat May 26, 2012 2:17 pm

So about two weeks ago I started seeing the signs and noticed that I have become home to a massive infestation of aphids (the tiny opaque green ones) which are enjoying themselves on my various japanese maples, hornbeams, and quickly devouring my chinese elms. I have been using a regular treatment of neem oil to cover fungus and insect prevention, I also released a 2000 lady bugs into my garden. So far the damage continues and the lady bugs seem to have all but moved on to my neighbors yards. Any tree and pet safe recommendations would be very helpful????


Also trying to fight black spot on my elms, the neem oil misting is probably not helping that one but its that or the bugs, to this point I have been trying to avoid watering the foliage and have tried to remove any affected areas, any other ideas are much appreciated.
Steven
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Post  JimLewis Sat May 26, 2012 3:21 pm

A soap spray will get rid of the aphids. READ THE LABEL.

I'm moving this to "Bonsai Pests" where this is a common question and has been answered before (as will the fungus problem).
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Post  coh Sat May 26, 2012 3:33 pm

Keep in mind that with ladybugs, it's the young (larva form) that are the big eaters. Even if the adults have moved on, they probably left eggs behind. I was working on some trees yesterday and found quite a few of the young ladybugs hunting aphids. If you're not familiar with them (they look nothing like the adults), there's a picture in this thread. They are quite effective...however, any spray (such as neem) will probably kill them off.

Depending on the severity of the infestation, I usually deal with aphids by a combination of (1) water spray, (2) manually wiping them off and (3) allowing natural predators to do their work.
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Post  Steven Sat May 26, 2012 4:41 pm

Thanks, sounds good, although I have always read that the neem doesn't bother ladybugs
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Post  drgonzo Sat May 26, 2012 4:44 pm

By the way, don'y spray NEEM on your Japanese maples, they don't react well to it when in leaf.
-Jay
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Post  coh Sat May 26, 2012 5:26 pm

izzmogizz wrote:Thanks, sounds good, although I have always read that the neem doesn't bother ladybugs

I don't know if it does or not...it could be that the adults are not affected but the young are (they don't have the tough outer shell).

Everyone does things differently...my preference is to avoid insecticides - even the supposedly "safe" ones - and only use them as a last resort. I find that aphids tend to prefer trees that are a little "weaker", especially those that have recently been repotted. Another thing about aphids - ants actually will "farm" aphids, protecting them and moving them around (the aphids secrete honeydew that the ants like). So check for ants, you may be able to significantly reduce the aphid problem by eliminating the ants, moving the trees, etc.
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Post  JimLewis Sat May 26, 2012 8:12 pm

izzmogizz wrote:Thanks, sounds good, although I have always read that the neem doesn't bother ladybugs

Neem is both an oil and a poison. Ladybugs are among the most susceptible insects to insecticidal sprays. And horticultural oils are also insect killers. I dunno where you "read" that, but I woudn't bet on it.

I'd be leery of putting neem oil on anything in the summer.
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Post  0soyoung Sat May 26, 2012 8:50 pm

There is the old gardener's way of squish all of them that you can and/or spray them off with a jet of water from your garden hose. May be a bit tedious, but it is environmentally sound and effective. Same 'jet of water' works very well for spittle bugs (in case you ever have that problem).
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Post  Neil-Dellinger Thu May 31, 2012 4:38 am

Acephate, malthion,neem all work. Acephate is a mild systemic. I water it in, then follow up with a spray of it combined with a drop of oil and dish soap. Then order some advion ant bait and get rid of them. If you have abig aphid problem, ants are probably keeping a step ahead of you. This will solve your issue in about 48 hours. Re apply as needed, usually 8 weeks or so.

Its what I do, and it works for me. Theres no reason responsible use of appropriate chemicals should be discouraged. I use neem as a preventive...never had an issue with Japanese Maples and neem.

My two cents...

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Post  Neil-Dellinger Thu May 31, 2012 11:32 am

also forgot....if you feed heavily with a higher nitrogen fertilizer (miracle grow etc..) you may be encouraging the aphids. I had fewer problems when I adjusted my feed.

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Post  Steven Thu May 31, 2012 11:33 pm

Good to know, I too have never had a problem with neem and my many maples, I hadn't considered the fertilizer being an issue but I have changed my feeding regime this season, I am also working on the ants
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Post  Mitch Thomas Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:48 am

I like the Bayer Advanced vegetable and garden. Started useing 3 yrs ago and I have not had any problems scence.

Mitch

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Post  Steven Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:01 am

Well after a good week of soap spraying, and hand picking the aphids seem to have moved on or been defeated, taking care of the ants at the same time may have solved my problem. As it happened last year about this time the grasshoppers/locust looking sob's started to show up in our area over the weekend..... little did they know that I know have a healthy population of very large and hungry praying mantis in my growing beds just waiting for them.... as of today I have seen no more grass hoppers lol nature is great
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Post  nickalpin Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:24 pm

Regularly blasting the leaves/branches with a strong spray also helps quite a bit. Aphids are constantly attacking the young growth on my fukien. Another (not-so-organic) big help has been using Merit, a systemic.

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