Insect Problem?

Hi,

I am new to this group and don't have much experience growing iris.

I have a cluster of bearded iris that is about 4 years old and about 
3 feet in diameter.  On Sunday, I noticed that the plants had sent up 
flower stalks, but on close examination, I found that four of them 
were broken.  The breaks were clean and located about 12 inched up 
the stalk.  Earlier in the day, I noticed a heavy infestation of 
aphids on my roses.  When I peeled back the layers of leaves, I found 
a heavy infestation of aphids on the broken iris flower stalks.  The 
aphids ranged from large adults to tiny eggs.

I don't know if the broken stalks are a result of high winds we 
experienced last Thursday or if the aphids are responsible for the 
problem.  I know that there is an iris borer, but I haven't seen any 
evidence of a worm like creature.  What problems can the aphids cause 
and what should I do to get rid of them?  On plants like roses, I 
often just control them by giving them a good blast of water, but in 
the cases of the iris, the aphids seem to be deep inside the layers 
of the leaves that have not unfolded.

Any help would be appreciated.  I was looking forward to a big 
display flowers this year.  They did not bloom 1998, and I don't know 
why, but last year they were beautiful.

Bill
Zone 6a, Cincinnati, Ohio




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