My two apple trees suffered from an infestation of aphids, the likes I have never, ever seen before. A fruit tree horror movie. What was most amazing is me caring for these trees once again, and if anything happened to one of them, I get really upset! Well the aphids are now gone, after almost killing both trees with home-made remedies including soap from the internet. Don’t do it. Forget dishwashing liquid to kill aphids. It kills the leaves and the aphids are there in droves the next day!
I realized what had happened. Last year, to cool down my trees and terrace I would also hose down my trees, leaves, fruit and all. This year my housekeeper said, ‘we don’t do that here it will kill the tree’. Well, my hosing down last year prevented the killer aphids from ever appearing. So I continued to water the leaves, and not only is one tree sprouting new leaves it has hung on to about ten of its apples. It is the espalier which I really did not want to lose.
As for the Calville Blanc, it is much slower to recoop but it is on its way. At least its not dead., I might trade it in for and Abat Fetel next year. I prefer fruit on branches instead of just branches!
Yes the aphids are gone, and the espalier is thriving. The calville blanc looks like this. They have both been fed and I spray the leaves daily. The calville is coming back with tiny new leaves. Sad, but insects happen!
I see no dead twigs or anything. So seems like there is no permanent damage
And i think i even saw a smal apple bottom left? or is that just a blur on the photo?
and middle top left.
aphids for me are never that bad, since an explosive growth is quickly followed by loads of ladybugs and then empty sucked out aphid leftovers are all i see.
I’m afraid that’s harder for you on a balcony. not loads of predators around. Maybe you could grow some aphid magnet sacrificial plant next year? like nasturtium (Tropaeolum). Worst case scenario you have some extra pretty flowers around.
Mrs. G.,
Glad to see the espaliered tree thrives. Hope Calville Blanc will fully recover.
I did spray water on my new grafted peaches that got aphids. The leaves are too tender for me to squish those aphids by my fingers. Your good advice has worked well. Thank you.
Next time all you need is water. Aphids have three flying stages on their yearly life cycle. In between those (when you see them on the trees) they can’t really move all that much. If you dislodge them with water they won’t get back on the tree and will end up dying.
So next year as soon as the danger of frost is gone and before the trees bud out spray them with orticultural oil, it will asphyxiate the overwintering eggs. After that whatever gets there just clean your trees with a jet of water from your hose.
I used a green dish soap. It was French, it is very difficult to get American dish liquids here but I would say these are far more mild. I used a mixture of one cup wate one third cup canola oil three drops dish liquid. Shake and spray. It was a disaster don’t do it.
I started out mixing dawn/neem/water and found out that this mix would damage leaves and if I had continued I think it could have caused serious damage to the whole tree. This year I only added 3-4 drops of dawn to a quart of water. My trees tolerate the less concentrated mix better but I have to repeat the spray for two to three days. I like the use of water only.
I had an aphid issue on some of my stones fruit and with in a week ladybugs set up shop and cleaned them out. My Cherry trees really sighed with relief when that happened.
in a natural enviroment normal aphids usualy aren’t a problem. Since ladybugs can decimate them easily. The trick is to get the lady bugs early enough in the year to avoid the plage altogether.
With aphid “host” plants like nasturtium (Tropaeolum)
But if also heard of spraying plants with a mixture of sugar and bakers yeast. To get ladybugs to lay eggs before there are aphids.
On a balcony or in the middle of a city though. That’s tough to do.
