Do you see greenfly as a problem?

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by daisybelle, Jul 6, 2008.

  1. daisybelle

    daisybelle Gardener

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    They don't even feature on gardeners' world top 5 list of pests and MD says he thinks they're best left alone as they do no harm.
    Is it just me? They are a constant menace in my garden-I have so many misshapen flowers and leaves thanks to them, it's untrue.
    I do all the attracting ladybirds things-in fact I had tons of the larvae on my silver birch this year. Blue tits were helping to eat them from the silver birch too. The rest of the plants just had to suffer though.
    I treat them with soapy water when I see them, but it seems like a constant battle :(
     
  2. strongylodon

    strongylodon Old Member

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    In a commercial nursery they can be devastating and have to be controlled chemically, in private gardens they can be a serious pest but only on plants they are partial to.
    One of the main problems is that aphid larva usually live on the underside of leaves and are not noticed at first, also our mild winters have allowed aphid to breed and thrive without slowing down causing havoc on spring growth.
    I sympathise D they can be a major headache for me at work as is Whitefly, Sciarid fly, Red Spider, Mealy Bug, Leaf Hopper and Leaf Miner:(
     
  3. The Lost Antheus

    The Lost Antheus Gardener

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    I only see them as a pest when they really cover a plant. They are all over the garden but only really infest a few species. In which case I spray 'em
     
  4. daisybelle

    daisybelle Gardener

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    I do keep threatening to cull plants that they like, but that would mean some lovelies, not least my hydrangea :(
     
  5. walnut

    walnut Gardener

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    They are a pest and can spread viruses from plant to plant sometimes over considerable distances.
     
  6. Pro Gard

    Pro Gard Gardener

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    Horrible things, just look at how they can ruin a lupin or spoil the look of rose buds.
     
  7. lollipop

    lollipop Gardener

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    I certainly do-the blighters have ruined too many roses for me to have anything but animosity towards them
     
  8. Fran

    Fran Gardener

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    Mmmm, I guess I'm a lucky rose grower then. Each spring as new shoots and buds appear - the greenfly appear, and coat both - and I look forward to distorted leaves and flowers but each spring tits and sparrows remove every single one.

    Difficult not to lose my nerve - but its been the same for the last three years. Maybe its payback for the peanut feeders all year round :)

    About the only aphid I have to wash off - is black fly on echinopps, my little feathered friends don't seem to like either the black fly or the plant :(
     
  9. tweaky

    tweaky Gardener

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    I do see Greenfly etc as a problem. Why they didn't get into the top 5 I'll never know. Must say though, where I live at the moment, which is 3 miles from the sea, don't seem to have any. Wonder if living near the sea keeps them away??
     
  10. Shobhna

    Shobhna Gardener

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    I see greenfly as a problem too. This year I had them on the tulips. :eek::eek: I have never seen that before.
    I tried the fairy liquid trick, it did not work and in the end I resorted to the chemical spray. They had spread form the tulips to the roses.

    The black-fly seem to be causing more problems this year and I can't seem to get rid of them off the borad beans but I expect if I keep trying and I keep spraying, they might just get the message.
     
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