Hi all,

In addition to Marie’s articles we also have a forum where you can ask and answer questions. The most recent topics are listed below. Feel free to add your own input to the discussion. Enjoy!

The Weeder Team.

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

Having been a gardener for a long time, I know from experience that certain pest remedies for your garden don’t work for everyone, so you need multiple options! Since there is such an avid interest in aphids, I thought we’d examine how to get those nasty pests to go away for good!

How to get rid of aphids on seedlings…

Method one: Get Garlic!

Get a garlic bulb and separate it into several cloves. Add the cloves to a pan of water (about 6 cups) and boil them until they are soft. Let it sit overnight. The following morning use a strainer to remove the cloves from the cooled liquid.

Add the liquid to one gallon of water with one tablespoon of biodegradable dish soap, and one tablespoon of canola oil (it helps the mixture stick to the plants but this ingredient is optional).
Stir the mixture (do not shake!) and pour into a spray bottle and spray your seedlings.

Seedlings are very fragile so spray them further away than you would normally, and try to spray under leaves if possible! I have this wonderful sprayer called the “RL FloMaster” that produces a very gentle spray! I’ve used it on my seedlings for years without problems!

Method 2: Aphid Chaser

These tablets contain pheromones that are supposed to help you chase away your aphids. Though I have not tried them personally, I’ve read many success stories of people who use them and have had good luck!

From Jackson and Perkins…

“This amazing patented pheromone sends aphids fleeing, halting colonization without harming beneficial insects or plants”.

Method 3: Tobacco Spray

I know this looks rather…icky, but it helps your garden!

Make a tea using approximately two pinches of chewing tobacco, cigarette butts, or even cigar butts. Soak any one of these overnight in a gallon of water and strain in the morning. Pour into a spray bottle and treat affected plants with it!

Apparently this solution just doesn’t work on aphids, but also keeps dogs and even rabbits away from your precious plants!

I would suggest that you start with a weak solution to make sure your seedlings can take the sudden “boost.” The smell will still be there and aphids should vacate to a more appealing area.

Method 4: The Famed Banana Peels

I spoke about how Bananas are a Health food for Your Garden in a previous article.

I use banana peels in between the row of my seedlings to help get rid of and prevent nasty aphids! I simply cut the peels into thin strips length wise and lay them skin side down. I remove them in 2 to 3 days and if necessary, I reapply. It works for me!

If you keep a cover on your seedlings and ventilate for a short period of time that will help too. If a mildew problem develops you can use a chamomile tea solution (boil 4 teabags in a gallon of water and let cool overnight) for watering your seedlings. It helps against damping off as well!

How to Get Rid of Aphids in the Garden

1- I understand that planting a Rue plant near your other plants will help keep aphids away. Rue produces a bitter smell and taste which repel aphids, deer and other pests. Just a side note! Rue was used by the Quakers in their rose garden as an organic method for preventing pests.
2- Lay banana peels on the canes or branches of infected plants. Aphids will be gone!

3- Planting parsley around roses will help keep aphids away.

4- Introduce beneficial insects like lady bugs to your garden!

5- Prune infected leaves!

6- Use a strong spray of water to knock aphids off your plants (repeat for a few days in a row!!)

7- Use insecticidal oils and soaps such as Neem oil or a pyrethrum soap mixture. They are good for both vegetables and roses.

Read More About It!

Here are some articles that I found helpful and informative…

DavisWiki: Aphids
Pest Control in the Vegetable Garden

If you have any great remedies for aphids that weren’t mentioned here, write us and tell gardeners everywhere! The great thing about gardener’s is we are always willing to lend a helping hand!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

Congratulations to Evelyn Forbes for winning our first Daily Weeder contest! Evelyn won this lovely garden journal!

Now we have another great prize!

Go back to being a kid again and play in a little mud! Except now you can make something besides mud pies!
One lucky winner will receive this great Stone Marker Kit from Lee Valley! All you have to do to enter is answer one simple question in your comments below!

The question is…

“What is your favorite time of year and why?”

Here’s what Lee Valley has to say…

“This clever kit lets you make your own colored concrete marker stones of various sizes for labeling plants or for signs such as “Welcome” or “The Smiths”. The process is simple: mix concrete or mortar with the colorant and pour it into the molds. Then press in (and then remove) the letters, numbers or punctuation marks to spell out the message of your choice. The kit even comes with a form to make a prop for holding the stones upright.

The kit has a complete set of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, as well as four forms (1-1/4″ deep, 2″ high; length ranges from 4″ to 14″), colorant, a trowel and instructions. All parts (except colorant) can be reused hundreds of times. Blends nicely into any garden.

Can also be used with our concrete colorants. Kit does not include ready-mix, which is readily available at building supply centers.”

Write out just about anything with this innovative kit! Dog names, favorite poems, flower and plant names, names of loved ones, etc.

Hmmm, it’s lucky gardener’s aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty!
By commenting below you are automatically signed up for our email, however it is easy to unsubscribe at any time, and we don’t sell your name to anyone!

We pick the winner at our sole discretion.

The contest lasts one week, we will be announcing the lucky winner on March 28th!

Good luck to all who enter!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne