Use lemon juice as an organic way of killing and repelling aphids from the plants in your garden.
I hate aphids. I really, really hate them. But I also hate pesticides, partly because I love bees and other beneficial insects which can be harmed by chemical sprays. So what to do when those nasty green blighters set up camp on my favourite plants?
Fortunately I have my own organic secret weapon that seems to work far better than any shop-bought chemical arsenal anyway. And that weapon is simply lemon juice.
I’ve got a recipe here involving chillis and garlic, but all you really need to do is grate the peel from five lemons then cut them in half and juice them.
Throw the peel into 300ml of boiling water and leave to simmer for half an hour or so. Meanwhile, pour the lemon juice into a spray can or a watering can with a rose and spray the affected leaves and stems on your plants. Aphids hate citrus, and will either die or disappear, leaving your plants to recover beautifully.
You can then water the boiled peel and its water over the soil around the plants to give off an especially offputting lemony aroma to ward off any determined aphids who might fancy returning. Where your plants are under serious attack, you’ll need to repeat this every three or four weeks.
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Ena Ronayne (@plantmad)
It’s amazing what lemon, vinegar, salt etc can do as natural deterrents although I do find old fashioned soapy water a treat on roses for killing aphids
Ena Ronayne
The Garden Design Co
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Lauren
I too share your hate for aphids, and spend half of my time in the garden making sure the numbers are kept down! Thank you so much for the post, I can not wait to try it out
My only concern is whether it will make the soil slightly acidic over time?
Wouldn’t worms hate that?
Susie
Will limes work as well?
F&F
Hi Susie, they should do: it’s the citrus that the aphids hate. Not sure if oranges would be too sweet, though.
sovereignjohn
There are lemon scented herbs and plants. Add these lemon fragrant plants around the garden might also help without adding citrus acid to the soil. Great article. If the infestation gets too bad this is a great idea to come to the aid of plants.