Boy do I have infestation. I'm hosing, picking them off and pruning back. I have a few new sprouts coming up from the ground so I don't suggest pitching the MW. Maybe invest in some lady bugs. Release them in the late evening at sunset, wet the plant also. Ladybugs are very thirsty when released so with the plant wet they will sick around longer.

Good luck!

Edna

Hey, I can totally empathize! My poor little A. physocarpa, which were SO lush, were decimated by the little buggers last year and are spindly looking this year (what did make it through, that is!). In fact, I was SO excited yesterday as I was out back watering and checking everyone (yep, I call my butterfly plants my 'babies') to see an itty-bitty flower bud starting to form on one. I had to call DH over to check it out! I said, "I have a flower starting on the physocarpa!" He said, "I thought this was a Milkweed." I replied, "It is! It is an Asclepias PHYSOCARPA Milkweed." "Oh!" :P

Anyway, back to the bugs.

I hose 'em down (attack, is more the word) and Ladybug the !@#$%^&* out of 'em! The various nurseries around town know me VERY well because I frequent them for Ladybugs⦠I walk in and they will say, "We have Ladybugs today!" or "Uh oh, we're out of Ladybugs" even if I am not buying Ladybugs.

My backyard, right now, isn't doing too badly but my front has a bad case again. Grrrrrâ¦

I am NOT kind to those !@#$% Aphids, either! I don't use any of the soapy solutions, thoughâ¦just plain old water and Ladybugs. Lots & Lots & LOTS of Ladybugs. Right now I am raising Ladybugs in my classroom and as soon as they morph into the adults, I am releasing them in my yard. :)

great idea on the ladybugs for aphids. I will try planting some more asclepias! do you find that the ladybugs you buy from garden centers are infected with parasitic wasps or parasitoid beetles? I have heard that this is a frequent problem and that you can end up with fewer ladybugs overall by getting them from garden centers (because it introduces wasps which then infect your native ladybugs already in your garden.)
michaluna

HmmmÂhaven't heard that one before.