green and black fly infestation

[nickybs]

Anybody else having a more than usual problem with green and black fly this year? I've not seen more than one or two ladybirds and the odd hoverfly and lacewing, maybe the winter killed most of them but for the first time my apple tree is covered in greenfly, all over the new growth and my elderflower is smothered in black fly!!!! Apart from cutting off the worst of the affected shoots is there anything else i can do? also my damson is badly affected again. Is there anything I can do to prevent this yearly damage?

[rustylady]

Not been too bad round here (cross fingers and everything else). Why are you thinking of cutting off shoots? As far as I know the only thing you do this with is broad beans. Spray with water containing a few drops of washing up liquid, or jet off with a plain water spray. If you catch them early enough you can usually just squish them with your fingers (rubber gloves if squeamish).

[nataliehix]

I have had loads and loads of black fly this year. They have loved my bolted pak choi (was saving for next doors rabbits), rocket, nasturtiums and courgette flowers more than anything else. I have been out with the horticultural soap spray and also a home-made one with my son's tea-tree shampoo, and they seem to be going now. They were almost covering the stems, and being farmed by the ants, but after 3 days they are hardly there now. Good luck with getting rid of them.

[Two_Sheds]

I haven't had much blackfly this year (unusual); a few greenfly on the chillies, easily despatched ... but today, loads & loads of greenfly on the wing: in my hair, on my legs & arms, ack ack