[mdjlucan]

I've just look at my two new bushes on all the new leaf its full of green fly hundreds of them what's the best spray to get rid of them is they'll one where I can  die loot in to a spray gun thanks

[mumofstig]

I use water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid in - you have to do it a few times though.

[mdjlucan]

Thanks Will this kill the bush

[DD.]

There wouldn't be much point doing it if it did!

[mdjlucan]

What I meant how Will the Green fly  affect the plant

[New shoot]

Greenfly eat the sap, so they will weaken a plant if left unchecked.  This may well affect flower and fruit production.

They don't suck sap as such, they insert their mouth parts into the plant and let the plant push the sap into them.  They can't digest the sap fast enough, so a proportion comes straight out the other end as honeydew.  This sweet sticky liquid attracts ants and if it drops onto the leaves, black sooty mould can form.  This blocks the plant's ability to photosynthesise properly.

All in all, they are not great news for the plant, but they won't kill it.  Soap spray knocks out the worst of them and hopefully you will get some ladybirds and other predators in shortly, who will eat the rest

[mdjlucan]

Thank you

[Dave NE]

Don't forget to net them, a few years ago I walked up the path to collect my gooesgogs and there wasn't a single berry left, probably stripped that morning and that was an end to G and elderflower wine, Dave

[mdjlucan]

How much sope do I need to add to the water

[simonwatson]

Just a couple of drops of washing up liquid in a hand sized sprayer will do.