Natural aphid control

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My garden is usually invaded by greenfly each year and they cause a lot of damage and stress. They particularly affect the hawthorn and apple tree leaves. Dh also objects to his fruit bushes being eaten.

Please can someone recommend a natural based spray I can use on them? I know about soapy water, but I've tried this in the past and just ended up with clean aphids 😬

You could try adding crushed garlic cloves to the soapy water.

Horticultural soap is really good. Doesn't harm plants but they really don't like it. I only have to use it a couple of times in spring and works a treat.

You can buy ladybird larvae online, they eat vast amounts of black and greenfly. If you get the conditions right for them they will stick around on the plant you put them on for a while and eat their way though it all.

Alternatively use a water and washing up liquid solution on them.

You could also buy ladybird larvae or ladybirds online. I've just bought some larvae from green gardener and put them around my rose bushes. I bought some 3 years ago and it worked really well but numbers were lower last year so I've decided to top up. Results aren't immediate but they do quickly get to work and start breeding throughout summer to keep greenflies at bay.

Last year I tried ladybirds and lacewings (you can buy both online) as well as crushed garlic spray and liquid soap. They worked to a degree. I think what really helped was planting a clove of garlic below badly affected plants and shrubs. It grew very quickly and seemed to protect the plant.

I'm reluctant to buy ladybirds because they'll probably just thank me for their freedom then fly off to the other end of the estate 🤔 I think I'd want them to sign contracts to agree to stay for at least a year 😄

I'll look for some horticultural soap though and I have garlic in that I can crush and add to a mixture.