LifestyleEco-friendly gardening trick: Yellow ribbons to ward off aphids

Eco‑friendly gardening trick: Yellow ribbons to ward off aphids

Hang a yellow ribbon in the garden
Hang a yellow ribbon in the garden
Images source: © Adobe Stock

7:03 PM EDT, July 21, 2024

More and more gardeners are turning to ecological solutions that are safe for the environment and human health. Instead of using chemical agents, they prefer to hang a yellow ribbon on trees, which effectively rids the garden of aphids. How does it work?

At first glance, it may seem like a simple decoration, but it has a much more critical function. The yellow ribbon is one of the oldest methods used by gardeners to deter pests, specifically aphids. Our grandmothers, who were well-versed in natural ways of dealing with garden pests, used this simple yet effective trick.

Yellow ribbon for aphids

Aphids are small but extremely troublesome insects that can ruin even the most beautiful garden. They reproduce at an alarming rate, feeding on the sap of plant stems. Their invasion often results in the destruction of crops, which is a true nightmare for any gardener. Plants attacked by aphids lose their nutritional qualities and often become inedible.

It turns out that there is a way to get rid of aphids effectively. All you need to do is attract insects to the garden that feed on aphids, such as ladybugs. This is where the yellow ribbon comes in handy.

Attract ladybugs to your garden

The yellow ribbon hung on plants exposed to aphid attacks can work wonders. This method relies on the instincts of insects.

Ladybugs find the yellow color attractive, encouraging them to fly towards it. Once they arrive, they immediately start hunting aphids. They are extremely effective at this—one ladybug can eat up to 50 aphids a day! Thanks to this, our garden can be free of these troublesome pests in a very short time.