[rookie1]

Good evening Gardenauts.

We've spotted a white furry substance on a box hedge which we planted two years ago. On closer inspection there was a little creepy crawly in amongst the white "fluff". Is this woolly aphid? If so, has anyone experience of successfully getting rid of them? A neighbour suggested a soapy spray. Is that sufficient? If so, what dilution and presume we're talking Fairy Liquid? Would rather not use pesticide if that can be avoided.

If this isn't woolly aphid, any other ideas as to what it is and how to remove?

Two pictures attached

many thanks

[New shoot]

It is woolly aphid and soap spray may do it.  Worth a try anyway.  You don't need to measure it as such, just squirt a bit of washing-up liquid in a hand sprayer and add water.  If you use too much, it gets too frothy to spray properly.

If you find it doesn't work because the fluff protects the aphids, your best bet is a systemic pesticide like Provado.  Contact insecticides have the same battle to penetrate the fluff to get to the insects.  If you spray late evening, you can avoid harming bees.  Once the spray has dried on the leaves, it won't hurt anything that isn't actually eating the plant or sap sucking 

[rookie1]

thanks New Shoot. Will certainly give the soap spray a try first.