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Winter Washing

februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
in Fruit & veg
One of my plum trees had a hefty aphid infestation this year despite being winter washed in February. To try to avoid the same next year, I'd like to do one winter wash now and another in February but there's still some leaves left on the trees. There's not too many, just a few hangers on from this years new growth. Would it cause any problems if I carried out the wash with them still on?  

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I haven't a clue but my gut feeling is that life is too short to winter wash a tree - any tree!

    Is that the recommended treatment for aphids? I would assume that most get killed off by frost over winter.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The RHS offers this info and advice on fruit trees, aphids and winter washing tho you have to scroll down a fair way as they prefer letting nature control aphids with good gardeninghygens, physical squishing and encouraging predators, as you will see.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/fruit-aphids 


    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
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    edited November 2023
    @Lizzie27 Normally my plum trees are very leafy and lush but this year, all the leaves on my czar plum were like mini savoy cabbage leaves. I didn't even take my annual garden photo it was that ugly. It was just heart-breaking and I don't want a repeat next year. 

    @Obelixx In previous years ladybirds have taken care of it but this year they were so late in coming, the damage was already done. By the end of May I still hadn't seen hide nor hair of one and I ended up buying some larvae. Fortunately, the aphids didn't take any interest in my other plum and greengage until a few months later at which point the ladybirds were out and about. My czar plum though was a complete right off this year.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I would try hanging a few fat balls in the tree and see if the blue tits will be attracted to them. While waiting their turn, they check out the rest of the tree.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    That's a great idea @fidgetbones.   I do it up by my roses but have new apple trees planted last autumn as well as older peach, nectarine and apricots that would probably benefit from the attentions of tits and sparrows.
    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
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited November 2023
    I’d be concerned about winter washing causing harm to overwintering ladybirds, lacewings etc. indeed this says 

    “…However you may also remove overwintering aphid predators …”
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-winter-wash-trees/ 

    I find that encouraging bluetits and insect aphid predators has worked in this garden. 

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





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