Feverfew Plant.

[Tilly2]

I have a feverfew in the garden which is smothered in blackfly. There are also ants running up and down the blackfly covered stems. I have read that the ants harvest them in some way.

Do I need to dig it up and throw it in the garden waste bin, or do I leave it there and hope that the feverfew is a permanent blackfly home, thus protecting other plants in the garden?

[Old_Geezer]

I spray aphids.
Alternatively maybe you can get some ladybirds interested.

[TonyV]

I've used a weak solution of washing up liquid applied with a garden sprayer that worked.

[Chipchopper]

It must be the high season for aphids at the moment.
I've seen a lot on many different plants, especially on my Buddleja
A good blast with the hose soon sorted them out!

[rowanwitch]

Keep it as a sacrifice plant

[Chipchopper]

I always prefer to remove them, they don't just weaken the plant but also transmit virus's, I first noticed them on my Buddleja when I saw that the leaves were twisted and contorted. Its showing good signs of recovery now.
Some aphids are specific to certain species of plants, ie the ones on my Budd are a different specie to the ones on my Lupine.

[Tilly2]

Thank you all. I have decided to dig it up and put it in the bin. It's looking quite poorly and I have just read that bees don't actually like feverfew. I let it grow thinking it was pollinator friendly.

Chip, Lupin aphids are a law unto themselves. No amount of spraying with soapy water deters them, pesky things. I don't grow lupins because they always get ruined.

[Chipchopper]

You can rid lupine aphid's in exactly the same way, no magic potions, just plain water from the hose with the nozzle set on 'jet', they'l think a tsunami has hit them.

[Tilly2]

That doesn't knock the flowers over then?

[Chipchopper]

There's a bit of a knack to it, you wave the nozzle from side to side and they spring back all fresh 'n clean.