Hi everyone,
I'm quite new to gardening so this is probably quite a basic question I'm asking.
We have a small apple tree that we only planted in the ground a couple of months ago - so it is growing a lot. It has loads of green aphids on almost every leaf though. I read somewhere that spraying very diluted washing up liquid on the leaves was a fruit-friendly way to get rid of them, however I sprayed them last night and the aphids are still at large.
How long would it take for them to suffocate? Should it be an immediate thing?
What else could we try - please bear in mind it needs to not affect the fruit growing and I don't want harmful sprays on there as I'm pregnant.
You can wash them off with a moderately forceful stream of water from your garden hose. That will remove them immediately. Take care not to knock the fruit off in the process.
After that, watch for more aphids to appear, because there will be eggs that hatch. You should be able to keep them under reasonable control if you spray the tree about every 10 to 15 days.
After that, watch for more aphids to appear, because there will be eggs that hatch. You should be able to keep them under reasonable control if you spray the tree about every 10 to 15 days.
Xanadu have a really close look as what is on the tree. Usually the aphids come first and then the predators.
Can you see any teardrop shaped things stuck on the underside of the leaves? Ladybird pupae. https://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ladybirds.html
Any flies, very dainty looking ones? Hoverflies.
https://dereila.ca/dereilaimages/Hoverfly.jpg
Green winged flies? Lacewings.
https://www.shop.wsbonsai.com/images/lacewing.jpg
https://www.ladybugindoorgardens.com/image/tnail/green_lacewing_larvae.jpg
This site gives you lots of information on predators....
https://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/pests/ipm1025beneficial.htm
Unless your tree was sick to start with you should find all the aphids will quickly disappear (get eaten!) and the tree will be fine.
Can you see any teardrop shaped things stuck on the underside of the leaves? Ladybird pupae. https://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ladybirds.html
Any flies, very dainty looking ones? Hoverflies.
https://dereila.ca/dereilaimages/Hoverfly.jpg
Green winged flies? Lacewings.
https://www.shop.wsbonsai.com/images/lacewing.jpg
https://www.ladybugindoorgardens.com/image/tnail/green_lacewing_larvae.jpg
This site gives you lots of information on predators....
https://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/pests/ipm1025beneficial.htm
Unless your tree was sick to start with you should find all the aphids will quickly disappear (get eaten!) and the tree will be fine.