From: Snag_one@msn.com   
      
   On 6/23/2024 10:47 AM, Wilson wrote:   
   > On 6/23/2024 11:22 AM, Wilson wrote:   
   >> 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!   
   > I mentioned BORAXO, but really meant BORAX.   
      
      Add some diatomaceous earth to the mix , it abrades the waxy coating   
   on hard shell insects and they dry to death .   
   --   
   Snag   
     It's great to be straight !   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)