I don't know about little damage. They ate an entire rudbeckia once. It was a small plant and by the time I noticed the plant was so weak it did not survive.

My apple tree is espaliered and I pulled off all the damaged leaves as best I could. Doesn't hosing them down just disperse them throughout the yard?

It might behoove you to read up on them :-) Knowledge makes you powerful and eliminates the fear factor! I'm thinking you haven't gardened very long of you are just now encountering aphids and haven't had to deal with them much previously. Most experienced gardeners take them petty much in stride.

First, aphids don't eat plants. They are sucking insects and feed off the plant juices contained primarily in new growth. If you ignore them, yes, the damage could be serious on small, not yet established plants but it is almost entirely cosmetic on any trees or shrubs or established perennials. I have been gardening both personally and professionally for more than 40 years and I have yet to see a plant that was killed by aphids. There is also no need to remove any leaves - just wipe or spray the insects off and be done with it - the plants need those leaves to photosynthesize!!

And spraying water will actually kill the vast majority. Aphids have no bones or bony protective covering and a strong stream of water will shmush them. Even if it only knocks them off the plant in question, aphids do not fly so they would need to make their way to another suitable host plant and chances are they would never make it - too many predators.

Thank you for your advice but the condescension was unnecessary and unappreciated.

I'm sorry if you thought that was condescending.......I was merely reacting to your comments about being 'terrified' of the aphids spreading rampantly throughout the garden and that you are apparently unfamiliar with how to control them.

I also would not underestimate aphids, their infestations can get out of hand, they multiply quickly and can do substantial damage. I just got over a big infestation. Water spray did not work, nor did neem oil, Spinosad nor Bayer 3-in-1. I had to resort to Malathion...that knocked out about 80% on the 1st spray, and the rest of them with a second spray 3 days later. I'd start with a more environmentally friendly solution first, but don't rule out Malathion if they are resistant.

I'm sorry but using Malathion is overkill for aphids. It is also an organophosphate and dangerous to any mammals including humans. Any kind of oily or sticky insecticide - even homemade - will work if you do not find the water spray adequate: Insecticidal soap, neem oil, horticultural oil, etc. Aphids are soft bodied insects and breathe through their skin. If you coat that skin with any sort of oily substance - like those mentioned above - you will effectively smother them and kill them. But you need to spray directly on the aphids themselves to effect control and quite thoroughly. This is also not necessarily a one time shot as eggs may be present that the oil doesn't reach.

IPM Aphid Control

I've said this once in another thread. I was very skeptical of ordering ladybugs to rid my roses of some aphids - but I did and it worked great. I'll do it again later in the season if they come back.

Last year I went the horticultural oil route and nearly killed all my plants from burning them (I used the same sprayer as the roundup - whoops). Anyway, lesson learned.