✅ Answer
Aphids are a very common problem for all gardeners. You will likely never get rid of garden aphids forever, but to protect your plants and prevent infestations, you should use a comprehensive approach: fight not only the aphids themselves but also the garden ants that farm them. The best methods are a soap-and-ash solution, biological pesticides (like neem oil), or systemic chemical insecticides (for extreme cases!), as well as sticky bands (traps) on plants and trees. There are other methods, which we will discuss below.

How to get rid of aphids on various plants in summer

Treatment methods vary significantly depending on exactly where the pest has settled.

Berry bushes and trees

  • On currants in summer: Pluck off curled leaves. Treat the bush with a soap-and-ash solution or biological pesticides. Do not use chemical insecticides, as the berries will be harvested soon.
  • Cherry aphids on trees: Also inspect the leaves, pick them off if necessary, and install sticky bands against ants. However, in early spring and late summer after the harvest, you can use insecticides (strictly as recommended by the manufacturer).
  • On strawberries: Here you will have to use another method: an infusion of dandelions or onion skins, as you don't want to ruin the strawberry crop.

Flowers and decorative plants

Aphids often live on flowers. How to get rid of aphids on terry and tea roses? A solution of tar soap will help. If you grow jasmine, lupines, arborvitae (thuja), or boxwood, an ammonia solution (2 tablespoons per 2.5 gallons / 10 liters of water) will suit you. This method is used in other cases too, but here it is highly effective—the strong smell repels them. Just make sure not to mess up the ratio!

Indoor and exotic plants

If aphids are in the house on indoor plants:
  • On lemon and oleander: Wash the leaves under a warm shower, then spray with a biological pesticide (like insecticidal soap or neem oil), which is mostly safe for humans.
  • On kalanchoe and lemon balm (melissa): Since we eat lemon balm, how can we get rid of aphids using folk remedies? Use another common method: a solution of baking soda or mustard powder.
  • In the apartment in general: Isolate the infected plant and wipe the windowsills with rubbing alcohol.

Unusual folk remedies: do they work?

Pros of folk methods:
  • How to get rid of aphids with salt: 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of salt per 2.5 gallons (10 L) of water is a very cheap method, but it is not suitable for a comprehensive solution, rather just for killing aphids on contact (apply only before buds open on trees!).
  • How to get rid of aphids with vodka: Ordinary cheap vodka in a spray bottle quickly burns the aphids' shells. A great method for indoor plants! Again, this is only for destroying the pests and is not suitable as a comprehensive preventive method.
Cons of folk methods:
  • They do not help with severe infestations.
  • They are washed away by the first rain. By the way, how to get rid of aphids during rains? What is the best solution? This is where extreme measures come in, mostly justified when other methods fail and the plant is on the brink of death. In rainy weather, you can try all methods, but in extreme cases, unfortunately, only systemic chemicals (insecticides) will save the day. They penetrate the leaf and won't wash off with water. Be extremely careful, use protective gear, and remember this is a last resort. Insecticides affect not only the pests but also the plant itself, altering its microsystem in one way or another, but that is a separate issue.
ℹ️ Note: Always treat the underside of the leaves of affected plants — that's exactly where aphid colonies hide!
❓ Do I need to apply fertilizers after the damage caused by aphids?
Yes, the plant is weakened. To learn how to restore your plants' strength, read our article on what to feed tomatoes and other crops in summer.