Ladybugs! They are the best. I buy several thousand and release them on the infested plants at dusk. If you release them during the day they'll fly away but in the evening they'll stay put and start eating. Even better are their larva. They eat even more aphids then the adults. Some nurseries carry them or you can order online.

You could try SucraShield. Its non-toxic, derived from sugar. Safe for kids, pets and bees. You don't get instant results from it like Malathion, but it certainly smells better. I use it to treat small pest problems around my pond, so I don't poison my fish. Plus I have so many lizards in my yard, I hate to use any non-discriminate killers.

Since it's a tree, companion planting really won't work. But for future reference, I planted petunia's under my roses this year, and had almost no aphids.

I turned some loose a couple days ago and they stayed.

I have used Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub, and I think aphids are one of the pests it keeps away. It is supposed to work for a whole year after application, you mix it with water and pour it at the base of the tree, and it is taken up by the roots and acts as a systemic. Whatever you use, I would give it a good blast with the hose first to knock off as many as you can.
Shawn

I thank you Kristy. Was wondering were all the lady bugs came from rofl.

got lots of them and I just hose all infested branches down with water. Of course on a tree that is not so easy.

Lucy

A shot gun! Not kidding al had practise (sp) one night for turkey season..LOL It wasnt pretty..:)))

Barb...I have no comment about the Aphids...but since I got this new computer and google grome, it does spell check on everything I write.

so a while ago I wrote far and the next word started with a t or hit it by accident. But I almost left the FART because it did not show it as being wrong hahahahahahahahah

Lucy

Lo Cracking up...Spell check is nice but as long as we get our point across some way..Lol I am cracking up!!!! and almost farted...hahhah

hahahahahahahahaha roflmao now THAT is funny hahahahahaha

Comes with age... Al was on the ladder today as I was holding it..He farted in my face.... I was laughing so hard he didnt mean it... I think....Lol

oh GROSS roflmao...I say good night....not that you start missing me. It seems like it is just you and me here hahahaha

On a Friday night..man we must be really getting OLD lol

It was fun Barb.

Hugs

Lucy

Night night our Lucy..We are never alone...:) Hugs.... Everywhere we are teaching as always even through lauhter...fart fart oh excuse me..Shooo I have to leave the building or is that Elvis that has to leave..:))).......

..well, last year I tried spraying the crape and unfortunately AFTER I sprayed I found some ladybug larvae. So, they died and the aphids flourished.

I just checked the plant and it was COVERED with ladybug larvae, so I'm letting nature do its thing. I think most of the aphids are already gone!

Has anyone tried red pepper spray? I just noticed my columbines are covered in aphids and that's all I have, so I will spray and see what happens. BTW, you all are nuts!

I have an overabundance of aphids this year. I may need a few thousand more lady bugs, lol. They are everywhere and the mealy bugs are on a lot of things too. I have been blasting them with the hose but if they don't lay off soon I'll have to use poison but I don't want to. Hmmm just remembered I have that anti traspirant stuff. I wonder if that will smother them. Soapy water works well if they aren't too far gone.