Are Aphids one of your five a day?

The worms are looking at Aphids this week. As new plant growth emerges, so do aphids. Their numbers grow quickly as there are fewer predators … but that all changes as the season develops and more predators emerge, to reform the natural balance in your garden. Aphids are a staple food for birds, wasps, lacewings, ladybirds and many more …

The cartoon headline says, “Rely on the natural world to control Aphids. One ladybird will eat 300 Aphids in its lifetime.” The cartoon shows a worm looking at a ladybird on a leaf with orange and black aphids in front of it. The worm says, “ I’m concerned about your diet. You need to eat more greens.” The ladybird and all of the greenfly on the leaf say “!” #putpollinatorsfirst

Try not to use insecticides as this kills the predators as well. #putpollinatorsfirst Squash them or spray off with a jet hose to control them, where you can. Follow our blog to get more daily gardening cartoons, ideas, tasks and tips.

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The wrigglers are amateur gardeners, for advice from the experts on how to deal with aphids, try the experts below – they know what they’re talking about!

Gardener’s World and how to get rid of aphids safely

Aphids are a natural part of the garden ecosystem and a vital source of food for many species of bird, including house sparrows. They’re only a problem if they occur in large numbers.

RHS – aphid contro l

Encourage the natural enemies of aphids in the garden, such as ladybirds, ground beetles, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps and earwigs. Be aware that in spring aphid populations often build up before natural enemies are active in sufficient numbers and then give good control. Indiscriminate use of pesticides can reduce the numbers of useful predators.

The Wrigglers have joined the #putpollinators first Campaign

Wild flower meadows flower for longer due to the diverse range of plants in them. That’s more flowers for you, and more food for the bees and insects. Plant one and join the Gardener’s World Put Pollinators First campaign – raising awareness of the decline of our pollinators @GWmagazine

Click to see our ‘Put Pollinators First’ page

Gardener’s world launched its #putpollinatorsfirst campaign, as part of their 30th Anniversary celebrations of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. See what you can do to play your part:

Join in the Gardener’s World team and pledge here

With a panel of pollinator experts, committed to helping bees and other pollinating insects to thrive, Dr Trevor Dines says, ” Since the 1930’s, over 97 percent of our wildflower meadows have been destroyed. That’s 7.5 million acres, gone. Now you can understand why our pollinators are in such trouble.”

There are 3 ideas:

Sow some pollinator meadow seeds

Create habitats for butterflies, moths and caterpillars

Make a cornfield nectar bar

By making a meadow, even on a small scale, we can provide a banquet for pollinators that’ll help them to thrive.

Here are some seed suppliers and links:

Dobies

Thomson and Morgan – how to sow wildflower seeds

RHS – How to grow a mini wild flower meadow