Update on this.

I treated the trees for aphids last week and this morning I washed leaves, cacti and tables with a small amount of Ivory liquid and water in a hose sprayer.

It helped immensely, much less sticky and none of the flower buds washed off-hurray!

Just thought I'd let you know in case you ever have the same problem.

noto

Quite a few ppl use soapy water to wash bugs off; others do not recommend using soap unless it is something like castile. Ivory is supposed to be very mild (?) and only little scented. I guess clear water spray is not enough?

Hope you got rid of the aphids, not easy in the garden with infestation like that.

Hi Rina, yep, plain water didn't have any effect at all.

I water my plants with ivory when I bring them in for the winter so I was comfortable washing them with it. I also soak my sleep apnea equipment in it so I think it's pretty mild. :-)

The aphids are really bad this year and the cottonwoods all around my property are loaded with them...and I've only seen 1 ladybug in the garden....

Okay--had to come in and cook breakfast--so a quick amendment to this.

When I tried plain water, it was just from a watering can and it had no effect. But I was filling water jugs from the hose for watering later and one had a lot of honeydew on it--the pressure from the hose cleaned it all off.

So in fact it was the water pressure that probably did the job.

Thanks Rina for making me think!

Yes, the pressure from the hose should work - at least to some extent :) I think we are often afraid of harming plants, yet they have to fight elements in the wild on their own...easier said than done.