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Blackfly control without harming beneficial insects

theluciblacktheluciblack Posts: 38
in Problem solving
Hi all 🙂

New but enthusiastic gardener, going nuts trying to find out the best way to control blackfly without harming bees and other beneficials. 

I thought I’d ask you experienced folk. What are your tried and tested methods?

I’m fine with making stuff, but it would be bloody great if there was something I could just buy!

Thanks in advance!!
Luci
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,818
    No chemicals.  They are  indiscriminate and will kill the good guys too.

    You can blast a lot off with a hosepipe and encourage birds to come in teh garden as they'll feed the aphids to their young in the nest whist appreciating energy for themselves for bird food you put out.   Ladybirds and hoverflies will arrive and eat the black fly as well as laying eggs whose resulting larvae will also eat aphids.

    If you don't mean black aphids then you probably have little black pollen beetles.  Harmless to you and great for pollinating your plants.  Friends, not foe.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Pauline 7Pauline 7 Posts: 2,227
    If you want to know if they are black pollen beetles, hang a yellow T-shirt on the line. 
    West Yorkshire
  • theluciblacktheluciblack Posts: 38
    Nope, I’m pretty sure they’re black aphids, seen them doing their thing and the ants hang around them 😡

    But that’s really interesting 🙂

    I bought an insect house today and I feed the birds, they’re defo happy to visit!

    i just wanted something to spray at the bastards. They’re hassling my philadelphus and it’s not in a place where birds or beneficials can really hang out 🙁
  • stewyfizzstewyfizz Posts: 161
    Fill a spray bottle with water. Add finely chopped Chillies and a decent squirt of washing up liquid. Let it brew for a day and then spray to your hearts content. Works wonders on Aphids.
    Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.
  • FireFire Posts: 18,018
    I just swidge them off with my fingers, but it's not so useful with aphids en masse. Keep the plants strong and well watered. I think this really helps.
  • theluciblacktheluciblack Posts: 38
    stewyfizz said:
    Fill a spray bottle with water. Add finely chopped Chillies and a decent squirt of washing up liquid. Let it brew for a day and then spray to your hearts content. Works wonders on Aphids.
    Right! This is a good one! The one I have done has a lot more ingredients and is a bit of a faff!! And smelly (it contains garlic). I will try this thank you!! 
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,218
    I did my apple with water and washing up liquid sprayed twice in one week then rested a week has helped not removed all but this was result. Before and after

  • theluciblacktheluciblack Posts: 38
    Wowee!! 😃
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,507
    Planting a nasturtium nearby is supposed to help as blackflies love them and you can pick off the leaves and dispose of them
  • theluciblacktheluciblack Posts: 38
    Yes I’d heard that. But the colours don’t go with my scheme 😆
    maybe I should just deal with that...
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