Shiny, sticky leaves..everywhere!

[Cetti]

Almost every plant in my garden has this problem, as well as all of the six Silver Birches. Does anyone know what causes this - and does it harm the plants?
I've been spraying just about everything with Pravado Bug Killer, just in case it was insects., but not sure if it was the right thing to do. Help, please!

[weeal]

Have the sticky leaves got any sooty marks on them - if so then the bugs may be 'Aphids'. Simple to get rid of either by chemical or organic methods bought from the local garden centre or otherwise try soapy water or even a good hosing down with your water hose. If the leaves are rolled up could be sawfly caterpillars.

I got the above answer from a google search. Not sure if its useful.

[Cetti]

Many thanks weeal, but no sooty marks - the hose has also been well and truly used, but stickiness remains.
Google did mention aphids, but again, there is no sign of them.

[Robinia]

hi Cetti, as weeal says it does sound like honeydew residue from aphids. The green ones can be camouflaged quite well as they pack themselves tightly along the fleshy stem growths. I only use soapy water on my plants, mainly roses which suffer, but that's not easy on a birch tree! My cherry tree did used to suffer terribly from blackfly on the new tips but now it's very big any damage is hardly noticeable.
The joys of a garden!

[Cetti]

Hello Robi, It must be the year of the aphid, as walking through our village this morning it seems as though the whole place is covered in this shiny stuff. I am looking really hard but still can't see any green ones, but there are bits of a white substance. White aphids?

[Robinia]

oh that was well timed Cetti...I've literally just blown in from the garden (the wind's getting on my nerves)
Yes, aphids come in several colours I'm afraid, I just mentioned the green ones as they're obviously the best at being harder to spot. You'll have to get chatting to some of your neighbours & see what they say & do...in my experience gardeners love to talk!