I need an exit strategy for Aphids

[jillan]

I already lost my beautiful zinnas to them.
Today I saw them all over some sunflower seedlings.

I've given up on planting roses because they devour those too.

Anybody have any tips??? Something to get rid of them without hurting my plants. Spraying with water with and without soap doesn't seem to help...

I am not going to let these little terrorists in my garden win.

[Imalittleteapot]

1. Ladybugs

You can get them online at Garden's Alive if you can't find them in your town.

I had aphids on every rose bush on the property -- got some ladybugs that devoured the creepy critters.

Also, as a temporary measure, you can blast them with water to knock them off the plants.

[jillan]

2. I did try that once

But the ladybugs didn't stick around too long.
Infact, my next door neighbor enjoyed them for longer than I did.

Maybe because it's hot in Az ?

[Sanctified]

3. Did you release them during the day or night.

I have done lady bugs several times, the first time I used them I released them during the day and just watched them fly off. I was then told by a lady to release them at night by the plants that have the most aphids on them because lady bugs wont fly at night and will just climb on the plants to wait for morning. The following morning all my lady bugs were still there and they were just feasting on the aphids and they stayed for about a week at which point all the aphids were gone.

[jillan]

5. Interesting!

I did release them during the day.

[Imalittleteapot]

4. Water the affected plants first - leaves and soil.

Wait until dusk to release the lady bugs. Shake them on the soil under the plant.

They will leave when there is no more food source. I didn't see one the next day after release, but I didn't see any aphids either.

[jillan]

6. Thanks for the info :)