What on earth do I have to do ????

[Deleted]

I - surprise have a problem with blackfly. Have sprayed systemic to be rid of them - tried soapy water. Found thousands living on the block paved area so spent three hours soaking the whole area with soapy water. Thought you won't beat me, feeling quite smug.
Loads of rain thunder and lightning - surely that must have got rid of the beasts. Home from work only to find they have ruined my fourth Aster all roots eaten away
The Aster's round the front of the house are in pots planted with French marigolds and are really healthy looking - could be companium planting does work. When I go to dead head flowers in my baskets I end up with them on my hands and arms Help I'm at my wits end

[madonplants]

I have never had it that bad and I have never sprayed insecticides. I garden organically, so don't get as much sappy growth that aphids in general like. I always have tagetes and poached egg plant to attract the beneficial insects like hoverflies, ladybirds and lacewings. Have you seen many of these about? If not might be worth getting some of them as they are great biological control.
My garden when I moved here last year had 77 roses, so it was greenfly heaven. I now have about 6 left, due to where they are! In the spring I found some greenfly on some of the buds, I will put a picture below, so I went hunting for a ladybird. Once I found one I put it on the bud and within hours all but one greenfly had gone. What do they do eat, poo, eat poo, as the ladybird was still the same size!! Or did some of his mates come to help?

Here's the bud and ladybird, just wish I had done an after picture as well..



Sorry I can't be much more help, but thought I would mention what I do!

Keith

[Deleted]

Thank you Keith for replying. Great picture.
It was suggested to me to put a cigerette butt in some water then spray again - I guess this would work, but I'm afraid this may act as a weed killer and as the roots are eaten away the plant keels over just before it is due to flower. I don't want to loose any more I have grown them from seed

[bagpuss]

The ciggie butt in water should work asterv, as long as you water the solution down before using it. I used some watered down solution to rescue a geranium that was almost destroyed by vine weevil grubbs, and it's still going now almost 2 years later.

Good luck, hope it helps!

PS: I think that companion planting with Marigolds definitely helps, I've used them in with my runner beans this year, and not a green or black fly in sight!

[Deleted]

Thank you Bagpus - I feel more confident to give it a go now.
I have never been known to have so many - it is driving me mad

[madonplants]

astervista1 said:

Thank you Keith for replying. Great picture.
It was suggested to me to put a cigerette butt in some water then spray again - I guess this would work, but I'm afraid this may act as a weed killer and as the roots are eaten away the plant keels over just before it is due to flower. I don't want to loose any more I have grown them from seed

Can't help you with the cigarette butt, as I have never smoked!! Hope it sorts itself out.

Keith

[MamIDdau]

I had greenfly all over the honeysuckle until I planted some marigolds next to them. Tis clear now.

The garlic spray might be an idea again (we all love the garlic spray don't we?!).

[nightowl]

I didn't know blackfly ate roots!!!! And never seen them on non-plant objects like paving!!!!

I thought they were just black versions of greenfly!

I stopped growing Nasturtiums cos they attracted blackfly, and now don't really see them much.

The Nasturtiums also attracted Cabbage White butterflies which produced squillions of caterpillars that started moving on to other things when they had eaten all the nasturtiums!!!Never seen anything like it, and no birds in the garden to eat them cos of Evil Moggy.