John Edgar wrote in
:

My roses are still growing hard here in Sussex, and because of the
dryness and heat we now have the dreaded aphids making a return visit.
I don't want to use Rose Clear etc, and have heard that they do not
like soapy water. Is this true, and if so what sort of soap and what
strength of mixture is best? Will dilute washing up liquid do the
trick for instance?

It will, but keep it very dilute indeed - a drop or so, no more.

This year my roses have been doing well enough that I haven't bothered
though - I just give them a blast with the hosepipe from time to time, to
wash the greenfly off. They don't seem to come back very quickly.

Victoria