Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Parasites on my Acer trees

rafuk73rafuk73 Posts: 68
in Problem solving
Hi. My Acer trees have been attacked by parasites as per my picture. What's is the best way to get rid of them. Thanks

Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    They're aphids that specialise in acers. A soapy water spray will kill them pretty quickly but birds are also eating tons of them at this time of year so if you can attract birds near to the tree then they will probably enjoy the feast too. I saw a blue tit taking some to my nest box this morning for his mate who is sat on eggs in there.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • rafuk73rafuk73 Posts: 68
    wild edges said:
    They're aphids that specialise in acers. A soapy water spray will kill them pretty quickly but birds are also eating tons of them at this time of year so if you can attract birds near to the tree then they will probably enjoy the feast too. I saw a blue tit taking some to my nest box this morning for his mate who is sat on eggs in there.
    Thanks wildedges. How can I make a soapy water? What sort of soap and how much ? Thanks 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Best not to use soapy water as it also gets the good guys who will shortly arrive and eat the aphids.  If you can't wait, just give them a blast with a hose pipe on tight spray nozzle setting and put out some bird feeders nearby.  They'll hoover up other aphids and caterpillars too to feed to their young.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I use Ecover Zero washing up liquid as it's what I have on hand but any natural washing up liquid would do or you can buy horticultural liquid soap. The fats/oils in the soap block up the pores in the aphids' skin and stops them breathing. I just make up a strong mix in a spray gun and give them a good coating. I only bother on plants in my greenhouse though as we've got tons of birds here that deal with the ones outside.

    As @Obelixx says though the natural solutions are often the best. If you blast them off with water then they will eventually crawl back up but keep repeating it and as long as you have birds and bugs around they'll get picked off eventually without much damage to the tree. Mature trees suffer less than young ones though so be careful if your trees are small and getting established.

    If you use soap you can rinse it off after a few hours and you could always throw fleece or similar over smaller trees after spraying if you're worried about other creatures getting affected.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • rafuk73rafuk73 Posts: 68
    Thank you very much, wild edges and obelixx!
Sign In or Register to comment.