Gardening woes

[ruthandsam]

Where have all the ladybirds gone this year? I haven't seen one yet. Also, my garden is absolutely crawling with greenflies on every single plant.

Are the two related and how do you get rid of the greenflies as they are ruining all my plants?

[Khandro]

Take an old hand-spray bottle (window cleaner or such) Crush a couple of cloves of garlic and put them in, along with a teaspoon of washing up liquid. Fill it up with warm water and give your infested plants a spray. Cheap and effective !

[welshlibranr]

I have had a few ladybirds in my garden so far, and not many greenfly yet!......hope it stays that way, but have noted Khandro's advice, and if needed will certainly try it!...........

[maggiebee]

Love ladybirds in the garden as they certainly keep the aphids down. Must admit I haven't seen any this year yet, but still seem to be relatively green fly free. Agree with Khandro, was going to say about washing up liquid, but hadn't heard about adding garlic. Will keep this in mind should the wee blighters show up.

[Khandro]

Of course, need I say, be careful not to spray any ladybirds if there are any around.

[Frank97]

Strange that you say you haven't seen any Ladybirds this year I was only thinking the other day that I've seen more this year than in a long time, still not that many though.

[SpikeyBush]

I haven't seen any ladybirds but I have seen a lot of damsel flies in the garden this year. They also devour aphids quicker than you can throw them out. Another thing I do to the aphids is tap them off into the palm of my hand and either tip them over a spider's web or put them into my pond for the fish to eat. Loads of greenfly on my teasels and roses but the natural predators are munching on them and the plants seem to be doing well enough without me spraying them..