Yes. Insects such as aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites can all be controlled with a morning spray of water to knock them off your garden plants. Water-spraying pests for several days in succession will disrupt the pests' breeding and hatching cycle and can eliminate the population.

Use a hose with a nozzle that gives a fine but hard spray of water. It is best to spray plants early in the morning three days in a row or every other day. Besides washing off the pests that are already feeding on the plants, you want to eliminate those that will hatch from eggs laid on plants by adult insects.

You an also plant companion plants to lure beneficial insects that create a balance and tend to keep outbreaks under control. Beneficial insects such as lady bugs and their larvae eat lots of pests, as much as 40 aphids an hour. Plants that attract these helpful critters in the garden include flowering plants such as angelica, goldenrod, morning–glory, and yarrow. Yarrow is easy to grow from seed.

For tips on a variety of gardening topics, see our Plant Information Guides.
- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service