Aphids Were Devouring My Dahlias Until This Chemical-Free Trick Got Rid of Them in Seconds – and No, I Didn't Use a Garden Hose

Dahlias with aphids.

This summer has been relentless, with never-ending heatwaves exhausting my garden. A lack of rain also means garden pests have been thriving, and to my horror, brought a whole aphid army to my patch of dahlias. With hosepipe restrictions in place and a reluctance to turn to harmful chemicals, I tried a new method to get rid of them: wiping stems with a damp cloth.

It's a good way to get rid of aphids if you have an infestation (I'm talking stems covered in a thick clusters) and don't want to waste water or use pest sprays that may harm beneficial insects and damage your plant's foliage. It's as simple as taking a damp cloth (microfiber cloths from Walmart work well) and wiping clusters of these destructive insects away.