You can also attract hoverflies - their larvae hoover up aphids. Nectar-rich flowers will do it - poached egg plant is reputed to be very good. Lacewings too but there don't seem to be many about these days.
I haven’t got a clue what the tree is that is infected I inherited it, all I know is the aphids seem to be enjoying the leaves, we had a lot of blue tits last year along with a lot of other birds, we live near farm land and they all seemed to disappear over the winter but are returning now, we have a cat so it is a battle to attract the birds. I will check out the ladybird web site out with a view to purchasing some.
If you'd like to know what your tree is post a picture of the whole tree, plus a close-up of the leaves, and we'll have a go at identifying it for you.
To post a pic just click on the green tree icon on the toolbar above where you type your post and follow the instructions.
It sounds like a lovely location.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have attached pictures for identification, the worst tree effected is in the center then leaves that are starting to go and the total effect on leaves then the devastation on the honeysuckle I sprayed next to the tree.
It's hard to tell but the tree is possibly one of the wild prunus - bullace, cherry plum, damson, that sort of thing.
It has been badly attacked but it's the price we're paying for a mild winter - many aphids survived the winter and made a head start with their breeding programme early on!
As I said, I think the best thing you can do for the tree is to encourage the birds to do the job for you, and hope for a few good sharp frosts next winter to knock the aphids back.
I think that with the honeysuckle I would pinch out all the badly affected growing tips. That number of aphids will have damaged them so you won't get good flowers. If you pinch out the growing tips the honeysuckle will grow sideshoots which will hopefully flower later this summer - and even if they don't flower this year, you'll have a bushier plant which will be good.
Again, resist using insecticides as they kill the good critters as well as the bad, and this is why we get the big inbalances. It may take a couple of years to get things in balance in your garden, but we've been here three years this coming August, and I've just been watching a large brood of newly fledged bluetits hoovering up aphids from my honeysuckle - they do the job and they're such fun to watch.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
...regarding your tree...I have another solution for you Keith but probably one that you wouldn't want to hear..... it's a manky old crusty looking tree, weak growing and obviously prone to severe attack....
...I would get rid of it and plant something more interesting in it's place... we do tend to hang on far too long to these ugly looking things, that are best consigned to the compost heap...
Hi I was left a link by Dovefromabove for the purchase of Ladybirds, I am new to this site and seem to have deleted the message, would Dovefromabove leave the link again.
Just when I thought all was lost Ladybirds and Ladybird Larvae seem to be appearing in the garden and munching at the aphids, is this the time of year when they appear? (June)
Posts
You can also attract hoverflies - their larvae hoover up aphids. Nectar-rich flowers will do it - poached egg plant is reputed to be very good. Lacewings too but there don't seem to be many about these days.
Hi,
I haven’t got a clue what the tree is that is infected I inherited it, all I know is the aphids seem to be enjoying the leaves, we had a lot of blue tits last year along with a lot of other birds, we live near farm land and they all seemed to disappear over the winter but are returning now, we have a cat so it is a battle to attract the birds. I will check out the ladybird web site out with a view to purchasing some.
If you'd like to know what your tree is post a picture of the whole tree, plus a close-up of the leaves, and we'll have a go at identifying it for you.
To post a pic just click on the green tree icon on the toolbar above where you type your post and follow the instructions.
It sounds like a lovely location.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi,
I have attached pictures for identification, the worst tree effected is in the center then leaves that are starting to go and the total effect on leaves then the devastation on the honeysuckle I sprayed next to the tree.
It's hard to tell but the tree is possibly one of the wild prunus - bullace, cherry plum, damson, that sort of thing.
It has been badly attacked but it's the price we're paying for a mild winter - many aphids survived the winter and made a head start with their breeding programme early on!
As I said, I think the best thing you can do for the tree is to encourage the birds to do the job for you, and hope for a few good sharp frosts next winter to knock the aphids back.
I think that with the honeysuckle I would pinch out all the badly affected growing tips. That number of aphids will have damaged them so you won't get good flowers. If you pinch out the growing tips the honeysuckle will grow sideshoots which will hopefully flower later this summer - and even if they don't flower this year, you'll have a bushier plant which will be good.
Again, resist using insecticides as they kill the good critters as well as the bad, and this is why we get the big inbalances. It may take a couple of years to get things in balance in your garden, but we've been here three years this coming August, and I've just been watching a large brood of newly fledged bluetits hoovering up aphids from my honeysuckle - they do the job and they're such fun to watch.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
...regarding your tree...I have another solution for you Keith but probably one that you wouldn't want to hear..... it's a manky old crusty looking tree, weak growing and obviously prone to severe attack....
...I would get rid of it and plant something more interesting in it's place... we do tend to hang on far too long to these ugly looking things, that are best consigned to the compost heap...
Hi
I was left a link by Dovefromabove for the purchase of Ladybirds, I am new to this site and seem to have deleted the message, would Dovefromabove leave the link again.
http://www.greengardener.co.uk/product.asp?id_pc=34&cat=75
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi,
Just when I thought all was lost Ladybirds and Ladybird Larvae seem to be appearing in the garden and munching at the aphids, is this the time of year when they appear? (June)
Fantastic! That looks promising
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.