AusBonsai

Hi .
It's my second growing season with my Japanese maple and it has leaves for 2 weeks and already the aphids (mealy bugs) are back I took care of them with pest oil last year . And have read that dishwashing liquid diluted makes a good spray to kill them . Is any one else having this problem it seems like it is going to be an ongoing problem and I would like to find out the most effective way of dealing with this Problem with out harming the tree . Also read that ants spread them and Even protect them to harvest whatever they produce. I know lady bugs love to feast on them so I will be looking for some of them and showing them were the feast is. I don't want to harm the tree in any way if i can help it . Does anyone know a good way to deal with this . ??

the ultimate eco friendly way, put on some gloves (latex?) and have a squish fest, put a dish of water under the tree (with something to keep the pot out of the water) so ants can't reach teh tree, spray daily with plain old water out of a jet nozzle.. white oil (vege oil, water, and dish soap,) shaken in a spray bottle, sprayed once a week? works well.

Try a systemic pesticide.

if u squash the aphid and leave it all around the tree. that can solve the problem.
aphid can smell their own death and dare not to go near.

that is what i was told.

john

I love the smell of pyrethrum in the evening