Actually, that's NOT the moral! The moral is right product, right time. And double check if you're not sure.
And the OP was looking for help on their current predicament.
How many posts have there been on this forum of people spraying the wrong products, or the wrong dosage of some chemical spray, or just spraying harmless or helpful bugs wth chemicals out of ignorance? I've seen plenty in my short time on here. At a time when insect and envionmental health is high profile and the ban on agricultural neonicotinoids has been made permanent do you really think there is a 'right product' for gardeners to be allowed to use at home at their own discretion? Organic solutions to OP's problem are available and as it turns out the chemical solution used to protect some of their crop has resulted in a total loss of the crop.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Actually, that's NOT the moral! The moral is right product, right time. And double check if you're not sure.
And the OP was looking for help on their current predicament.
Thanks Dave, I’m pleased I registered to ask for help I knew there would be a font of knowledge out there....I’ve never sprayed the wrong product before I know myself I should have checked.....and..... I’m very sure I won’t do it again! fact is accidents happen....
Please - if the tree has woolly aphids again - consider alternative ways of dealing with the problem.
Pesticides are not a great solution for woolly aphids as the waxy 'cotton wool' that surrounds them acts like a water repellent jacket and the aphids will often survive being sprayed.
A better solution is a scrubbing brush and a bucket of water to mechanically remove them. It may be impractical to remove every last one but you'll make a dent in the population.
Personally, I just leave mine - they don't do much harm.
If you still decide you want to use an insecticide then you should never, ever use it on a plant or tree which is in flower or blossom because you will also kill the "Good Guys" - ie the pollinating insects. Wait until the blossom has finished.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Last year I manually scrubbed the woolly aphids off with mildly soapy water as suggested in my gardening book, obviously too late.. it got rid of them but the leaves were already malformed and there was no fruit...thank you I’ll take on board your advice on when to do that next year Topbird...
I find that hanging a birdfeeder in or near the tree to attract blue tits is very effective ... those that are queueing up to get the sunflower seeds or peanuts or whatever start tucking into the aphids ....... and in the winter the families of Longtailed tits swarm over apple trees affected by woolly aphids ... they love them
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I find that hanging a birdfeeder in or near the tree to attract blue tits is very effective ... those that are queueing up to get the sunflower seeds or peanuts or whatever start tucking into the aphids ....... and in the winter the families of Longtailed tits swarm over apple trees affected by woolly aphids ... they love them
Posts
Actually, that's NOT the moral! The moral is right product, right time. And double check if you're not sure.
Please - if the tree has woolly aphids again - consider alternative ways of dealing with the problem.
Pesticides are not a great solution for woolly aphids as the waxy 'cotton wool' that surrounds them acts like a water repellent jacket and the aphids will often survive being sprayed.
A better solution is a scrubbing brush and a bucket of water to mechanically remove them. It may be impractical to remove every last one but you'll make a dent in the population.
Personally, I just leave mine - they don't do much harm.
If you still decide you want to use an insecticide then you should never, ever use it on a plant or tree which is in flower or blossom because you will also kill the "Good Guys" - ie the pollinating insects. Wait until the blossom has finished.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.