Pro garden designer reveals 69p hack that will kill green flies without using any nasty chemicals to harm your plants
It turns out that there's a nightmare pest that may be living in your garden - and it could be the reason why your
2
You may spot aphids clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular
Credit: Getty
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Pollyanna Wilkinson, right, shared how to banish the pest without harming your garden
Credit: The Ins & Outs Podcast
Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth.
They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black.
You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap.
But while there's no need to be alarmed, it's best to identify the problem as soon as possible - and luckily, a gardening whizz has come to rescue with a wallet-friendly solution.
read more on gardening
Speaking on her podcast,
Pollyanna Wilkison responded to a listener who had written into the show
how to banish the
The
gardening
designer
said: ''We're getting a lot of questions about how to get rid of aphids and it's a tricky one.
''Because on the one side, I want to say to you aphids are actually amazing forage for loads of really important insects - ladybugs, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps all eat aphids.
''They will be eaten by these guys if you leave them alone.''
Most read in Fabulous
However, if you're dealing with ''an absolute infestation'', there's something you can use - and it's already in your
According to Pollyanna, green-fingered Brits can use washing-up liquid - which you can snap up for around 65p from your local supermarket.
The £14.50 Wickes buy people are swearing by to get rid of weeds on their driveway for GOOD
She explained in
''That's not going to hurt anything.
''Whatever they breathe through, it blocks it and then they die.''
Keep pests out all summer
IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Hornets and wasps
- hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths
- acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants
- herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes
- plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
''We're not here for the pesticides - the washing-up liquid will do it absolutely fine.''
The gardening whizz also recently shared
'Hate them. I effing hate hanging baskets.
'And the reason I hate them is much the same reason that I hate small pots.'
She shared the first reason for this is that she doesn't think they are 'very attractive as a vessel.'
Pollyanna explained on the
'And I don't like seeing plastic in the garden.
'And also the body of soil that a hanging basket holds - unless it's those amazing ones outside the Ritz, which are just the most extraordinary thing I've ever seen, but those are the sides of a beach ball - it's just, it's this tiny little dish of mud.'
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