Apple tree - Aphids and possbily beatles, how to treat?

Hi @Palustris Just wondering about the copper sulphate mixture- i cant find any instructions on how to dilute it for spraying on trees-any ideas? I've only seen blue packets of it for sale on ebay. what do you use?

 

The chaps must be having a lie-in, @Snorky85 Just to clear up a few misconceptions....Bordeaux mixture is what Palustris recommended. It's widely used here (in fact it's about the only treatment still authorised). It's a fungicide, not an insecticide. Here's a link: Bordeaux mixture - Wikipedia.
So used to tackle mildew and scab. Bitter pit is caused by a calcium deficiency, current thinking is that it's linked to dry conditions.Bitter pit in apples
Three options for getting rid of aphids: insecticide, soapy water or sit out the infestation and wait for the ladybirds etc to do their stuff.

 

Hi @noisette47 Thanks for replying! Yes, I wanted it for fungicidal use - I should have put that. I've just ordered some online so should get it by the end of the week.

I'm determined to keep horrible fungus off my pleached trees this year. x

 

Do we know what type of fungal problem you have on your trees? @Snorky85

 

Not really @pete It looked a bit like a black spot. the bloke from the suppliers said they'd got it whilst stored over the winter. All the fresh new growth after copper treatment was clear. just want to make sure it continues.

we get a lot of fungal problems in the garden-the roses suffer the most.

was checking the pear trees next to the pleached trees and they had red bubbly looking leaves so I cut all the bad bits off-now want to spray them. The pear tree in the back garden is fine (fingers crossed it stays that way).

Also suffer with blimmin ants bad and the cherry tree get loads of black aphids on them and the ants farm them! Little blighters-will put lemon oil around them as suggested.

 

Black spot on roses can be controlled with a sulphur spray, not sure if it would work on your trees though.
If you sprayed last year with copper and it worked then best to carry on.

 

tempted to try the sulphur spray on roses-I heard that that's why roses in cities and built up areas do well due to sulphur in pollution-apparently that's why black spot wasnt very common back in the old days

 

The pear problem sounds like pear leaf blister mite. You did exactly the right thing picking them off. I don't think there's an insecticide to deal with them, but they can be eradicated just by disposing of the affected leaves

 

thanks @noisette47....I wish id taken a photo of it. I will surely find more so will add a photo on here

 

Hey, embarassingly, I bought it but never used it...
Every year I keep forgetting until it is too late. Probably I should set a calendar reminder or something.
I did however spawn some some garden giant mushrooms in woodchips under the tree in question, which helped a bit, but did not solve its numerous problems.

 

We tried a few home made remedies ourselves.

First was a really, REALLY strong black tea. We brewed it specifically for this reason, let it cool and then sprayed it onto the leaves.
Within a day there was a giant aphid party. It looked like a Techno-Rave and they multiplied like crazy. Another two days later almost all of them disappeared so I guess the hangover killed them.... Success in that regard.

My mother in law swears on another remedy to kill them off. She collects wild growing stinging nettles and (giant) hogweed (please wear gloves while doing so), puts them into a water filled bucket with a lid on it and lets them rot for about 1-2 weeks in warm weather. The resulting mixture can be sprayed onto the plants. The nettles provide nutrients whereas the hogweed kills "all them nasty critters".