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leaf curl on fruit tree

Rich BRich B Posts: 132
in Problem solving

Hi

 

I have a fruit tree of unknown, i think plum and the leaves are shriveling as the grow.

Its a young tree, only 2 years in the ground. I have the same kind of thing on an apple tree.

I have sent some photos...

Any Advise????

Rich

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Posts

  • Rich BRich B Posts: 132

    No Aphids or any bugs

    The leaves seem crispy and are black in places.

    They look like they have been cooked in the oven.

  • Rich BRich B Posts: 132

    Not sure but that sounds right...

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Rich, check with a magnifying glass as 'plum leaf curl aphids' are much smaller than ordinary ones and difficult to see for most people.  I think that is why buddyboy asked, as the symptoms look exactly like your trees show. 

    The RHS advice on plum problems is here:

    http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/plums#problems

     

     

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Rich BRich B Posts: 132

    I just checked with magnifying glass and there's defenatly  no aphids on any leaves but may be if they left in early June i wouldn't see them anyway. If it is Aphids and they have gone maybe i just cut off the infected stuff and give it some food and water???

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    If they have gone I wouldn't bother removing the distorted leaves as they aren't diseased as such, just distorted and will still be supplying goodness to the fruit.  Do think about using an organic winter fruit tree wash to try and stop them doing the same thing next year though.  The aphid eggs overwinter on the tree and start on the buds as they open.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,131

    If there are no aphids then I suspect drought.  The trees are planted very close to the fence and are therefore likely to be in a rain shadow, and the lawn is also very close to the trees and will be robbing them of the moisture and nutrients they need. 

    I would clear as much of a circle of bare soil around the trunks as you can - a circle with 1m diameter would be good - that way there's no competition for moisture or nutrients from the grass.  

    In the meantime I'd give each tree 3 buckets of water tomorrow and again on Wednesday and again the following weekend, and continue with the watering until autumn and the leaves fall. 

    What feeding and mulching have they had?


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





  • Rich BRich B Posts: 132

    I was just saying this to my dad.

    I planted these 3 small trees 3 years ago but for the last year i have not watered them.

    Im a new gardener and didn't think i needed to water my trees like i do my plants.

    Theres defiantly no bugs on the tree so im going to water them heavily tomorrow and regularly from now on....

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,131

    image Hurrah - they'll do much better.  In the autumn  give them a good mulching of well rotted farm yard manure (don't let it touch the trunk) and in the spring give them a good feed of Fish Blood & Bone (as directed on the packet).  A bit of tlc is all they need image


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





  • Rich BRich B Posts: 132

    WOW

    Thanks Garden Yoda's....

    As i say i am still a novice but answers like this make the whole thing excellent...

    I love my garden....... 

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