Greenfly and aphids - is it too late to spray my apple tree?

[WellTidy]

I posted a couple of days ago about the birds eating all of the cherries on the cherry tree overnight.

Oh well, I thought, at least the apple and plum are looking ok.

(All were bought at about two years old and this is the third growing year that we’ve had them.)

I’ve just seen that the apple tree, which had blossom on it earlier thy is year for the first time and so I was full of hope for, has greenfly and aphids. Loads of them.

Am I too late to spray it? The leaves are already curling and I don’t see how I will be able to remove all the little things. Any hope?

First of all look closely to see if you have ants farming the aphids, if so "take steps" to eliminate the ants. I regularly have this problem, it's usually blackfly here. I've sprayed my small (5 year old, about 12 ft high) apple tree 3 or 4 times since April. I use a mix of Sulphur Rose and washing up liquid. It works really well to remove the aphids and doesn't harm the foliage, even if used in bright sun. It's not systemic so more pests will come, but the damage they do is less severe as the leaves mature. It's worth clearing out ant infestations because they will carry aphids to unaffected plants. You can buy sticky stuff to paint around the trunk, but I put a couple of squirts of ant powder around the base of the trees. Check that the ants can't bypass the powder by accessing the tree via nearby structures or plants.

No ants. I will buy Sulphur Rose. When you say that you use a mix of sulphur rose and washing up liquid, do you mean that you use them alternately please?

I use this from amazon, works great. Just make up how much you need and then give them a quick spray weekly.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008MMM132/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

Gorse why the Sulphur Rose? It's an anti-fungal - I wouldn't have though you needed it for aphids?

Spray with soapy water ASAP. Also give it a good watering if it’s been dry recently (it’s not been here in Scotland). If it’s infested it’s a sign that the tree is struggling.

I may have lost one of my young trees to aphids last month. It had very few roots as it was a hand-me-down and the dry spell and aphids meant it went from loads of blossom to almost dead in a couple of days. It has about 10 leaves now :(

I’ve watered it loads over May as we’ve had hardly any rain. It looks really healthy but for the infestation. I’ll spray it with soapy water tomorrow. I’ve ordered the SB invigorator and bug killer concentrate and that is going to come in the middle of next week. I hope it’s not too late! Should I spray with soapy water daily until then do you think?

I would think you are also killing the bees so would only use it where you need to.

Is your tree a cox's apple? it's very young to expect much of a harvest anyway. (The growers force them into fruiting early) I wouldn't use any nasty sprays if you want to eat the fruit or if you like birds and bees etc, they will eat the bugs. Apple trees are known for being a pain to grow successfully esp. cox's.

The professionals spray their trees 26 times in one season fgs. The organic growers manage to grow their trees using very few.

They also need specific conditions to grow well, e.g not too much wind or cold or sun ]grin] Also to have another apple tree nearby to pollinate it.

I think a high pressure hose might get rid of the beasties . Without any nasty chemicals.

Mere....the honeydew that zillions of aphids produce becomes mouldy and causes problems in its own right. I see the product that Bluntness recommends has an anti fungal. I love Sulphur Rose, anyway. Best thing for blackspot and Hollyhock rust!

So eff the environment eh Gorse and Welltidy Those nasties cause human health problems too.

I am open to suggestions ppeatfruit. Hence me asking the question. Thanks for your suggestion.

Thank you for being open minded Well . I know growing fruit trees can be difficult ! Maybe also give your tree a good mulch and a spray of seaweed\nettle feed.

I have an area in which I've tried to grow a quince and a cherry tree , they've both failed. I do think it is the location of the trees. The pear which is just 6 feet away is doing well! But it had a lot of fruit in the first year and not so many since. As I said I think the nurseries do 'force' them into fruiting early on.