Madgardener; have had same problem 3 years running. Used insecticidal soap
but this is getting expensive as I had to apply it weekly all summer. (The
first year I applied Diazinon and for some reason all 20 spireas died within
a week...never found out why. Was told Diazinon was save for Spireas.)
Like your idea of hose plus soap. What type soap and mixture can you
recommend?
I suppose an attachment such as a Miraclegro hose spray bottle would
work????
Is a once a week application effective as long as the aphids keep appearing?
I also intend to get rid of the ants to keep the population down.
Unfortunately the Ladybug population here is almost zero and I don't think
imports would stick around.
Thanks.....Zone 4 newbie.

"madgardener" wrote in message
news
THOSE are aphids............make up some soapy water in a hose attachment
and spray their butts off the spirea. They're sucking the juices outa the
poor bush!!!
madgardener (I have aphids too, but apparently the word got out and
ladybugs
are eating them as fast as they can........hopefully they will lay eggs
and
once their larval children hatch, the "APHID LION" will consume more than
mom did..........)
"xcitor" wrote in message
...
don't have a pest identification guide (any www resources appreciated),
but
in the meantime, if anyone can identify the pests at:

http://www.lpmd.org/gardens/spirea1.jpg and
http://www.lpmd.org/gardens/spirea2.jpg

i would certainly appreciate it. they don't seem to be stressing the
plant
in any way, but i'm just trying to ascertain (1) what they are; and (2)
what, if anything, i should do about them. i'd like to avoid poisions if
i
can.

thanks,
--john