Advice for a mealy bug and aphid infested laurel hedge please

[Laurelinfestation]

We have a very big old laurel hedge. Over the last 13 months or so it’s been infested by mealy bug - I think- little white bits of fluff, and aphids. I’ve tried removal which isn’t easy with a large hedge and spraying but nothing seems to be working well for long. They have caused black mould and managed to kill one corner of the hedge including the woody stems. Can anybody advise what to do? At the moment I’m considering cutting off the top most dense third to get some air flow into the hedge and remove hiding places for the insects. All this is further complicated by a massive ants nest under the bushes too. Ant ware fare is also underway.

If you can get the better of the ants it should help massively with the aphids. If you have mint in the garden pick handfuls and jam the sprigs into the hedge, I do this on my roses, and the smell drives the aphids away.

I don’t know about the mealy bugs. There are a few people on here who really know their stuff so hopefully someone can help.

@SockFluffInTheBath thanks we do have mint but no sign of it yet but I’m going to get some small plants and use that. Would mint essential oil maybe help too?

I should think so, it’s pretty strong we use it to keep mice out of the shed 😂 I don’t know if it would burn the hedge though, maybe put it on rags or balls of cotton wool?

My guess would be woolly aphid rather than mealy bug.