skip to main content

Fruit & Orchards

Aphids destroying leafing out grafts

8 years ago

I have a few aphids on my trees not to many but I did a bunch of really nice scion wood grafts this year they are shooting out nice fresh growth now but some are falling victim to these little buggers .

I've sprayed them lots with trounce ,soap and water water and squashing them but the next day I find more .

Is there anything I can spray on the tree to deter or keep them off ? Everything seems to have to have contact with the aphids which is difficult . This is the first year fruiting on some of these trees also and I want to protect the small plums .

Featured Answer

mattpf (zone4)
Original Author

8 years ago

Does it actually deter aphids

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

tlbean2004
8 years ago
Maybe neem oil will smother them.
Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
8 years ago
I just squish them with forefinger in thumb.
Related Discussions
Aphids are wreaking havoc on my cucumbers and melons
Q
Comments (12)
As you spray and knock off the Aphids you see, but then new generations appear that need the same treatment. I have seen many anecdotal reports about Tomato Leaf sprays with mixed results, but that may be worth a try. Insecticidal Soaps can be effective, even home made, if mixerd properly and if the right materials are used. The active ingrediant in Insecticidal Soaps is the fatty acids that real soaps have and detergents do not. Many people, because they are permited to be labeled as soap, mistakingly use detergents which do more harm to plants then insects. Mix 1 teaspoon of a real soap, animal fat or vegetable fat based, in 1 quart of water. If the plants leaves are whiteish you probably will need to rinse that soap film off Aphids are attracted to plants, more often, with lush green growth, plants growing is soils with an excess of Nitrogen, or other nutrients out of balance. Here is a link that might be useful: About Aphids
...See More
got siiick of mites and aphids...
Q
Comments (15)
noma, the other problem not meantioned, is broad mites, you cant see them, but they devistate. the are so small they are known to travel on the legs of white flies! Ria, Be careful you don't have Broad Mites. I think you are holistic, use natural solutions, which is commendable, however, these wont work on Broad mites. I did what you did, more or less, twice striping all leaves; some eggs will still be left and the nightmare starts all over. Finally I used Forbid, specifically designed for mites; This seemed to do the trick. You might need to find out if this is your problem, since you did get some cuttongs from me, before I knew I had mites. Use macro mode on your camera and zoom way in. Take a look, and if necessary take consecutive images. Your eyes are sharp, you will probably see them. good luck, I hope you get them.
...See More
Is this curly top? or aphid damage?
Q
Comments (4)
Curled, stiff and crispy often spell "received a whiff of weed killer" even though unintended. As for the purpling, are you fertilizing? If yes, with what? If not, please start. However, the leaf spots are something else -- perhaps someone else can suggest something for that. And the pot is small for what the plant will become. Over all, the thing looks stressed. I'd be tempted to replace it with a new plant.
...See More
Damn caterpillars eating my new grafts!!
Q
Comments (2)
I have no ideas on environmentally nuking them except maybe BTK but then the caterpillars have to ingest it to die, meaning they have to eat the leaves. I am expecting a mass invasion of the tent caterpillar this year, unless the wind blew all the moths in a different direction when they hatched :) I have stocked up on a large roll of very light frost cloth and am going to sew long tubes, slip them over the grafts and tie wrap each end. They won't be on long enough to girdle the tree. I refuse to let the evil little worms kill my efforts.
...See More
john zone 8
8 years ago
I use soap with small amount mineral oil works grate.
copingwithclay
8 years ago
Step one: Get rid of the suckers on the leaves. You can squeeze many as long as the tender new leaves DO NOT get bruised at all. You can hose off many. You can spray with dish soapy water to saturate the suckers, wait 5 minutes, and hose them off along with the soap.......Step two: Prevent replacement aphids from arriving. You can use 1" wide masking tape to snuggly wrap 2 separate rings on smooth, round lower branches/trunk with the sticky side facing outward to snag ants carrying aphids, as well as other crawling insects. As long as the adhesive remains very tacky, the ants will not cross. You should check frequently to see if any small lizards got snagged so that you can gently free them to resume serving you and your plants by eating bugs. Been there . Done that.
mattpf (zone4)
Original Author
8 years ago
I wish I had lizards in my yard.
mattpf (zone4)
Original Author
8 years ago
Is there not a spray that if I spray will simply keep aphids from ever wanting to eat my fresh growths.
meredith_e Z7b, Piedmont of NC, 1000' elevation
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Oops, I was wrong about Sevin maybe being a choice you could try! I deleted my post that said that I bet it would work :) It actually doesn't kill some kinds of aphids.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Look Out for Lacewings: Beneficial Insects Coming to a Garden Near You

By Pollination Press LLC

Lacewings are delicate insects that produce alligator-like, hungry offspring that devour aphids and other garden pests

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Wonderfully Easy Roses for Any Gardener

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Look like an expert even if you're just starting out, with these low-maintenance gems of the rose world

GARDENING GUIDES Attract Hummingbirds and Bees With These Beautiful Summer Flowers

By Annie Thornton

Roll out a welcome mat for pollinators to keep your landscape in balance and thriving

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Columbine Grows Happily in Shade and Sun

By Paintbox Garden

Its ethereal beauty comes from complex forms and wide-ranging colors, but columbine’s benefits are highly attractive too

GARDENING GUIDES Organic Matters: Thwart Insect Pests With Trap Crops

By Therese Ciesinski

Add a few sacrificial plants to your garden to lure insects away from the harvest

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Apricots

By Marianne Lipanovich

Velvety fruit, pretty blossoms and interesting bark make apricot trees a delight — and they’re great for smaller gardens

SUMMER GARDENING How to Grow Basil

By Marianne Lipanovich

Bright color, quick growth and endless uses for cooking make this summer annual a winner in the garden or a pot

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Gardening for the Bees, and Why It’s a Good Thing

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

When you discover how hard bees work for our food supply, you may never garden without them in mind again

WINTER GARDENING Pruning Secrets for Exquisite Roses

By Annie Thornton

Encourage gorgeous blooms year after year with this time-tested advice on how to prune your rosebush in winter for health and shape

HOUSEPLANTS How to Grow Orchids Indoors

By Marianne Lipanovich

Orchids are the exotic aristocrats of the flower world and can make themselves comfortable in almost any home

Sponsored

More Discussions

best cantaloupe for this area?

0

Peach trees need help!

1

beginning fruit or new leaves

6

Peach Tree Leaf Curl

6

What's causing this strawberry problem?

2