Aphids are so tiny it’s hard even see them, but you can surely see their effect of your landscaping. So many outdoor pest control products are dedicated to their eradication because of the damage they can do. Don’t let aphids ruin your landscaping. Take action now, before it’s too late.

Less than 1/8 inch long, aphids don’t look much like a menace. However, they have the nasty habit of congregating in huge groups, maximizing their impact on plants. They suck the juices right out of the plant, stealing its vigor and health and sometimes its life. They might gather or the roots, stems or leaves depending on the species of aphid. Some look like undersized grains of white rice while others could be grey, red, green or yellow. If you look closely, you might see their two tell-tale tubes called cornicles and their long legs sticking up from the tail end of the insect.

These sapsuckers won’t kill your shrubs and plants right away. It takes time for the plant to lose enough vitality to actually die. Some of the signs you should look for are yellowing leaves or leaves that curl or are misshapen. The leaves or the ground around the base of the plant might feel sticky form the honeydew aphids secrete. You could also see some of the other insects that are attracted to the sticky-sweet honeydew. Honeydew may grow a type of black fungus call Sooty Mold that makes the branches look dark.

Your lawn care service or pest control company can help you identify and effectively treat your landscaping for aphids. In the meantime there are some safe and green pest control measures you can employ on your own.

  • Use the hose. Set your hose sprayer to the strongest stream the plant can withstand and spray as many aphids off as you can. This will minimize the damage until you can get a pest control appointment.
  • Check your fertilizers. Aphids seem to favor environments high in nitrogen so check with a local nursery to see if you’re over-applying this soil nutrient.
  • Try an insecticidal soap. These are usually safer around children and pets but pretty effective on aphids.

Don’t lose your valuable landscaping to aphids. Check your shrubs and plants regularly and set up a pest control schedule to keep these and other pests at bay.