Warm weather often reveals a tiny unwanted partnership on garden stems: Aphids sip plant sap while ants harvest their sugary honeydew. It’s a delicate alliance. Colonies multiply in days, leaving curled leaves and sticky residue behind.

Flip a leaf and search for dust-like specks or blister-shaped bumps of aphid cluster just under the surface. Light infestations can be removed with a swipe of insecticidal-soap solution or by pruning away the worst. Persistent ant traffic may be discouraged with a narrow band of diatomaceous earth around an affected area, breaking the supply line without harsh chemicals.

Healthy plants resist pests best; maintain balanced nutrition and water deeply in the early morning. By discouraging ant-aphid teamwork, midsummer gardens can stay vibrant and interconnected. Balance, not battle, cultivates lasting green.

 Patti Beres is the owner of Be Green Pro LLC, sustainable landscape services, in southeastern Wisconsin. For more information, call 262-361-4034 or visit BeGreen.pro.