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Honeydew worries

jakegarrod84kDYO3Z8yjakegarrod84kDYO3Z8y Posts: 2
in Problem solving
In my garden I have 2 damson trees, both next to each other and both riddled with plum aphids (not much I can do due to the size of the trees) my issue is that beneath the trees, in the lovely dappled shade they provide, I have a potted rhododendron and an Acer black lace. Now these 2 plants are 2 of my favourites but are becoming a sticky mess with honeydew from the aphids. They've been thriving in that spot as they get a good amount of morning sun then are in dappled shade from around about 11am till around an hour before sunset. I don't want them so suffer, what do you recommend I do as they are in the perfect spot, but I can't control the aphids due to the size of the trees and they're likely to get black mould on from the honeydew.
Thanks in advance
Jake

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Honeydew is a big problem this year I think the lack of rain in recent weeks has been the problem. I have seen it on lots of different plants.
    Hosing it off might be an option but if your trees are very big I am not sure what else to do other than hope for rain. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'm not too concerned about the plants it drips onto, but my car is parked on my drive under my neighbour's huge oak.
    Within 24 hours of cleaning it there's so much honeydew (i.e. aphid excrement) that I can't even see out of the windscreen.
    In all the 37 years I've lived here it's never been as bad as this year.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • jakegarrod84kDYO3Z8yjakegarrod84kDYO3Z8y Posts: 2
    GardenerSuze said:
    Honeydew is a big problem this year I think the lack of rain in recent weeks has been the problem. I have seen it on lots of different plants.
    Hosing it off might be an option but if your trees are very big I am not sure what else to do other than hope for rain. 
    The damson trees are quite large and covered in the aphids so there's not much I can do about them. I'm more concerned about the Acer and rhododendron in all honesty than the damsons 🤣 I feel like I can feel it dripping on me when I stand under the tree there's that many aphids. Need the ladybirds, wasps etc etc to kick in and start feeding sharpish 🤷‍♂️
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