What can I do to get rid of the little red bugs on my tigerlillies?
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This is the second year they have killed my beautiful lilies. I have had these flowers for several years, and they have been so tall , healthy, and gorgeous . How can I treat the soil to prevent this from happening again. Any info you can give will be much appreciated. Thank you....
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Sounds like your lillies need lifting,dividing and feeding. I divide my lillies every 3rd year and get baby plants and give a chook manure based pellet and re plant in the same bed and then find a home for the extra baby plants or give them to friends.when lillies get too crowded they get weak and are prone to attack.
They are lily beetle. I normally just squish them between my fingers. When you brush past the plant they will drop to the floor on their backs, as a defence mechanism, this makes them harder to spot. Just pull them off the plant and squish! 😷 I have had them totaly eat silly to the ground before-act swiftly 😊
http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/lily-beetle/8090.html
For aphids I use washing up liquid mixed with water in a spray bottle
Janet's article reference is most useful. However, just dumping the beetles into soapy water will not drown them. They revive when you pour them onto the ground, so you'll have to kill them either manually, or letting the soapy water stand in the hot sun for a day or so.