You can squash them, dislodge them with a hose, shake them off onto a sheet or spray with a washing-up liquid solution. You can also encourage the aphid’s natural predators such as ladybirds and lacewings with nectar-rich flowers or herbs – pollinators like bees will thank you too – or purchase their larvae and introduce them as a biological control. There are also many different insecticides available, but read the instructions carefully and take precautions if you have pets or small children.

14 common garden pests and how to treat them