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Sambucus Nigra
i have only just noticed that my Sambucus Nigra has a black deposit on the main stem and a few other places on the plant. (See photograph).
does anyone know what this deposit may be (larvae, per chance!!) and what would be a suitable solution. This plant is in its first year.
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Up the correct way this time, hopefully!!
I think your black deposit is a large family of black aphids. They can easily be washed off with a spray from your hose pipe, or if there aren't too many wipe them off with your fingers.
Yes, black aphids - I would do as Norfolkdumpling suggests.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks, people for these helpful responses.
my first thoughts were aphids but thought I would put this to you experts.
I'm a bit of a novice at the moment so any help is welcome.
So did a bit of both water flushing and hand eradicatio. However, during these efforts I've established that the entire plant if covered in these black aphids. I think I'll use a sistemic pesticide on the plant in the morning once the dew, and the water I have just put on the leaves, has evaporated off.
I wouldn't bother at this time of year.
It wont be long before the leaves and aphids are all gone anyway, and again because of the time of year, it's too late for them to do any damage to your sambucus.
I'd leave it - kinder to the bees too.
A water spray with a JUST A FEW DROPS of washing up liquid in it will make them drop off if you want to get rid of them.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I agree with Pete - systemic insecticides will kill all the good insects, ladybirds, bees, hoverflies etc - many of which would feed on aphids next year. Kill them off and you'll have even worse problems next year.
The aphids will be gone as soon as the colder nights arrive and as Pete says it's too late in the season for them to do any damage.
Over the winter hang bird feeders with sunflower hearts near to your sambucus, to attract blue tits and other small insect eating birds - when they get used to it as a feeding station they and their fledglings will hoover up the aphids in the shrubs in the spring
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks, people. I'll refrain from the insecticide and see how we go.
Thanks once again for your great advice.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.