Optimal Conditions
Wet and warm (also known as spring)
Signature
Clusters of small black or green dots on the stems of your plants and underside of the leaves. Turns the leaves yellow by sucking out their sap and then leaves behind a sugary residue - called honeydew - that ants feed on. An abundance of ants, that then protect the aphids, is a tell tale sign of a problem.
Prevention
Keep the plants well spaced for good airflow and consistently watered to reduce plant stress. Don’t overfeed with nitrogen, which tends to make plants more susceptible.
Coping
Accept that it’s seasonal and apply a soapy spray to clean the leaves of aphids, the honeydew and the ants. Don’t use chemical fixers, which will discourage predators to come in and help.
Eradicating
White oil (or eco oil), applied on a dry day in the morning and then reapplied in similar conditions a few days apart to compound its effectiveness. You should also introduce the aphids’ number one predator, the ladybird. Go get ’em guys!
