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Was it me or an infest that's causing damage to the tree?

Gn0meGn0me Posts: 85
in Problem solving

I've uploaded a few photos to show my concern.

This tree (Elderflower?) seems to have been totally infested with something (insect larvae?) and can now see the tree is wilting. The tree also seems to be keeping the lawn below moist thus encouraging moss and depositing a waxy coating on the slate chips below. You should be able to see the difference between two areas of slate chips. I don't know if this is simply normal and expected.

However, when I took the photos of the infestation which was about 12 days ago, I also used weed killer to kill the grass along the wall and next to the tree. I'm now worried that it was my total ignorance that has caused the wilting.

Can you tell what's going on and what action I need to take if any?

Thanks very much and hope you can help.


Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    The insects are blackfly aphids ... the elder tree is one of their favourite restaurants 🙄 ... you can swoosh them off with a powerful jet of water from a hose. In future encourage bluetits to feed in the area by hanging feeders near the tree at this time of year they and their nestlings will harvest them for you. 

    As for the wilting ... it’s quite common for the soft new growth of elder to flop in hot weather. Hopefully that’s all that’s happening and the tree will perk up again.

    You could help it by giving it two or three buckets of water a couple of times a week in dry weather. 

    🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    By the way ... it’ll be the honeydew from the aphids that’s falling on the soil below. Get rid of the aphids and that’ll be another problem solved   😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Yes, two things almost guaranteed to get covered in Blackfly aphids are Elderberry and broad beans!  Elderberry grows as a weed around here, so I'd have it out and replace with something less troublesome.  They are lovely in a field boundary but not a tree I'd have in my garden, although some of the cultivated forms are rather pretty, such as Sambucus nigra 'Black lace' but still prone to blackfly.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Gn0meGn0me Posts: 85
    Excellent!
    Thanks very much for your replies.
    I feel better!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @BobTheGardener 😱

    Don’t cut it or take it out without paying respect to the fairy of the elder tree
    http://www.thegoddesstree.com/trees/Elder.htm

    😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    @Dovefromabove Yes indeed! 🐱‍🏍
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Gn0meGn0me Posts: 85
    My Ninja-Gnome would've sorted this all out but he refuses to go beyond the patio nowadays. One of his eyes no longer lights up in the dark anymore so I think he's lost his confidence a bit.

    Thanks again.
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