Blackfly!

[Minkies11]

So....my Philadelphus is infested with blackfly! I tried spraying a nauseating mix of garlic and diluted washing up liquid on them but nothing happened. Yesterday I tried to coax 50 reluctant Ladybirds onto the bush but most ended up in my hair/up my sleeves/on my shoes. I can't use anything chemical based for wildlife/cat reasons but was wondering if anyone has any bright ideas? Should I leave the ladybirds to get on with it and maybe buy some more? Or should I bite the bullet and prune the branches?
Advice welcome!

my poor cherry tree is heavily infested. i have been spraying heavy duty killer on it but to no avail. ive now taken to just lopping branches off.

its not working....

interested to see what other people suggest....

Apparently Bugclear kills them dead and stays in the plant but it's really toxic to pretty much everything. Otherwise I'd use it!

My beans are infested and am pregnant so no chemicals for me. I've been using washing up liquid slightly diluted on a bit of kitchen roll and wiping them off. Slowly starting to work.

My cherry tree is also infested. I have been inspecting it weekly, this time ten days ago it was clear but three days ago it was infested. They’ve taken it over in a week. I’ve tried with the ladybirds but it is too severe for that. I’ve removed the worst branches and sprayed the rest. But the leaves are crinkling and that makes it hard to get to the aphids. I have mentally written it off for this year.

Marigolds on, kitchen roll in between you and them, if you like- then squish. Afterwards give the affected areas a bit of a hosing. Honestly, totally gross, totally satisfying!

I have a rose in an arch that is covered in greenfly and this weekend I shall get up a ladder and deal with them...... get ready, greenfly.

My cherry tree is a write off too. Luckily my pear, plum and apple trees are untouched.

I'm going to squish this weekend if my incredibly lazy ladybirds haven't made a start. Gutted as I have lots of buds on the philadelphus this year and the infected one is starting to spread to the clean one. It'll armageddon if they spread to my new DA roses!