Aphids are actually very easy. A solution of soap and water in a spray bottle and a little swiping with a rubber gloved hand and the problem should be solved.

WG

Also, start eating bananas and throw the peels on the ground under the plant. Always worked for me with roses in Denver. I read that years ago in an article written by a well known organic gardener. He "didn't know WHY it worked, but it did."

Or just blast them off with the hose.

Insecticidal soap spray (whether store bought or properly homemade) is devastating to aphids. The few that would be left can usually be handled via natural predation.

I plant onions, scallions, chives, and coriander, all as companion-plants.

All repel aphids. I plant chives or onions with my roses, as a rule.

Tansy repels ants (thus aphids). Therefore, I plant Tansy in strategic places.

Don't have any aphid problems (knock on wood).

It seeds itself, and will spread...but it's a very pretty fernlike plant. Not bad at all...just pull it out where you don't want it.

I cut it and use it with roses and other flowers in flower arrangements.

Ants don't like mint, either. I have mint in my yard, and plant it near doors and window. Works great. Never have ants in the house. Rodents of various kinds don't like it either.

Nasturiums help with several pests; I plant them all over the garden too.

Also, attract a wide variety of birds to the yard with 10+ feeders with varieties of seeds. That helps, too.

Hope this helps.

I either blast my roses with a hose or spray with insecticidal soap but my nasturtiums are on their own and mostly they survive. This year I have a new aphid attacking my cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) that is brownish red. It is kind of creepy but the plant is robust enough to take a blast of water every day. I guess I have decided that aphids are a phase my garden has to go through every year and I wont loose my head about it.