From: nowhere@nearyou.com   
      
   On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:   
   > On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:   
   >> I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some beautiful   
   >> Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has been getting ravaged with   
   >> aphids. Just as soon as the blossoms come on, these critters kill them.   
   >>   
   >> I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that didn't work -   
   >> certainly not fast enough.   
   >>   
   >> Any organic suggestions I can use?   
   >   
   > Hi Wilson,   
   >   
   > Yes there are.   
   >   
   > Two things you have to do.   
   >   
   > 1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.  Seventh   
   > Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.  It   
   > is completely biodegradable.  Get one of those hose   
   > attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.   
   >   
   > 2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.   
   > Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water   
   > and really cheap honey (Walmart).  Make a gooey   
   > paste.  Apply all over the place.   
   >   
   > Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs   
   > on them.  Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't   
   > just fly off.  But the ants must go first as they will kill   
   > the lady bugs to protect the aphids.   
   >   
   > Death to aphids!   
   > Death to squash bugs!   
   > Death to earwigs!   
   >   
   > -T   
   Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I have used   
   Safer's Soap without any real success.   
      
   There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but not really   
   noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird feeder up that attracts   
   some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it does work. Mentioned honey to the   
   wife and she immediately thought of some old corn syrup which we think would   
   work.   
      
   I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some Boraxo &   
   sugar underneath the plant. I'm going to check on it's effect on plants   
   first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put it along the boarder of my   
   garage for wood ants.   
      
   Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all winter long in   
   our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the 'M' or 'W' on their heads,   
   depending on which way your looking. Now, very few if any around.   
      
   The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids that I can see.   
      
   Thanks!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)