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Noticed this on my friends apple tree and she doesn't have a clue what it is so I thought someone here would know. Is it bad and if so how does she get rid of it please?
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S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber
You can't beat a bit of garden porn -
Woolly aphid.
Blast them off with a hosepipe.. -
Looks like the infestation has been going on (and ignored) for many years.
Some varieties are more prone than others.
Two major problems:
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Risk of canker getting into the split bark (some varieties are resistant to canker).
2.
Split bark and twisted branches make for a structurally unsound tree with rather brittle branches which can break under stress..Comment
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Thanks FB I knew you'd know.
Blasting off is a bit difficult as its on the lottie , not taps for hosepipes. She says she's never seen it before , the tree isn't that old it's one of those family trees with different types on the one tree.S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber
You can't beat a bit of garden pornComment
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I had a suspicion that a hosepipe ban or location on allotment would scupper that plan.Blasting off is a bit difficult as its on the lottie.
The other option is to scrub them off with a brush and soapy water.
Tell her I don't believe her.She says she's never seen it before
Is it just one part of the tree affected?the tree isn't that old it's one of those family trees with different types on the one tree.
If the rest of the tree is mostly untouched, and if the rootstock is unaffected, I'd be inclined not to remove that part of the tree as it may be saving the rest from attack. Just try to keep their numbers down.
By keeping the numbers down, you'll also be reducing the spread from this tree to nearby trees on the plots or in gardens. Woolly aphids produce a few winged ones which go off in search of other trees.
Be careful with pruning becase it will cause a lot of soft growth, which woolly aphids really like and will quickly make a mess of.
So get rid of most of the woolly aphids before any major pruning is done, otherwise all the new growth will be ruined..Comment
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