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Petal power: farmers turn to wildflowers to save their crops
The Observer
|April 27, 2025
Farmers seeking to protect their orchards from one of the most “devastating” pests in nature are cultivating a new weapon: flowers.
The rosy apple aphid feeds on the sap of apple trees and has the power to decimate crops — but that power can be reduced by planting native wildflowers in apple orchards, attracting teams of helpful insects that prey on the aphids. The practice can save farmers up to £3,000 per hectare per year, according to a
This story is from the April 27, 2025 edition of The Observer.
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