Two Feet in the Dirt

Are you noticing a lot of ants in your garden? This could be a sign that you have aphids, tiny insects that love eating a wide variety of plants. When aphids eat, the sugary plant sap is ejected from their bodies, created what is called aphid “honeydew.” Ants of course love to eat this sweet excretion and are therefore attracted to areas with high densities of aphids. But don’t worry too much. With the exception of grey aphids, which are a serious problem for brassica crops and appear more in the later summer and fall, I have rarely if ever had aphids be enough of a problem that the plants haven’t been able to withstand and grow through any damage.

However, if you are worried that aphids are getting the better of your garden, a simple remedy is to spray a mixture of dish soap and water. I use a ratio of about 2 Tbsp dish soap in 16 oz of water. Mix well and spray on aphid-covered areas of the plant. The soap will encase the aphids and cause suffocation. Spray in the evening or on a cloudy day, as the soapy water will act like a magnifying glass in the sun and can therefore cause burn damage to plant leaves.