How to deal with aphids on fruit trees

A gardener and gardeners need to know how to deal with aphids on fruit trees. The insect is small in size. It is difficult to see it, but the characteristic traces of damage will indicate an unpleasant neighborhood. Experts have developed several effective techniques that are recommended to use to maintain the health of plantings.

About the methods of struggle

Keeping an orchard healthy without skills and knowledge is difficult. The danger of aphid infection is that the insect is difficult to notice, the process of its reproduction is fast. The gardener must follow the rules of agricultural technology and prevention in the complex. He must remember how to treat the trees from aphids in order to prevent their appearance and the formation of colonies.

A healthy garden brings a big harvest

Various preparations are available for processing plants:

• Biological - based on the extract of soil fungus (aversectin): Fitoverm, Aktofit, Akarin;
• Chemical - processing is infrequent. Long term: Fufanon, Karbofos;
• Folk - treatment of trees in the spring from pests and diseases is most effective. Spraying is used: plain water without additives, soap-soda or soap solution. Infusions - tobacco, ash, lemon peel.

Before using this or that remedy, it is recommended to find out the cause of the appearance of pests, as well as their approximate number.

The pest develops rapidly

Why is a garden guest dangerous?

Good aphid control on young or mature fruit trees in the garden helps to maintain health and increase yields. Up to 90% of people face the presence of aphids. That is why it is important to know how dangerous it is. The first thing to remember is that the size of the insect is too small to be seen with the naked eye. Leaves and wood are damaged. The average size of individuals is 0.3 mm, some reach 0.5 mm. Rarely, aphids are more than 7 mm. Insect colonies grow very quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to apply control and prevention measures immediately.

The rapid development of the colony is achieved due to the ability of aphids to migrate - insects have wings, which allows them to fly to other trees. Garden processing should be comprehensive. You need to influence all trees and neighboring plants, as the aphid moves in search of an optimal habitat for itself. Wingless individuals can also cause disease in plantings and fruit crops. The following should undergo processing:

• trees;
• decorative bushes;
• flowers;
• fruit bush
• decorative plantings - small trees, vines;
• vegetable crops.

Leaves are the first to suffer from aphids

For the normal life of the aphid colony, moisture is needed. With the help of the proboscis, the insect pierces the soft tissues of leaves or buds.After that, the plant disrupts the exchange of nutrients, the access of amino acids to the damaged area stops. As a result, part of the plant or leaf does not develop and dries up.

It is visually easy to determine that the plantings have been damaged by the insect colony. The gardener can observe on plantings:

• early leaf fall (this does not happen around or near neighbors);
• the leaf plate changes: its edge twists, becomes darker, dries up;
• if aphids damage not fruit trees, but plantings around, then their stems are deformed;
• growths of varying intensity and severity are observed on the tree trunk;
• buds and ovaries fall off.

As a result, the yield indicator decreases. Additionally, it is observed how the overall growth of a shrub or fruit tree slows down.

Aphids leave waste products on the leaves or trunk of the tree, which contain sugary substances. The plaque is called honeydew. As a result, the natural processes of photosynthesis are disrupted. The fungus actively reproduces on the leaf plate. The danger from aphids also comes from the ability to quickly transfer various viral diseases that lead to the weakening and death of bushes, trees and other cultural plantings. Timely and competent crop care can prevent the problem. Additional protection will be the implementation of preventive measures and the phased destruction of colonies. Chemical, biological and folk methods are used for this purpose.

How to treat trees from aphids

If there are suspicions that aphids have settled on trees, how to fight and what to do, every gardener should know. For primary treatment and as prophylactic agents, folk, biological and chemical preparations are used. Mechanical methods are also used. Each method has its own advantages, therefore, a complex effect is recommended.

Folk remedies for aphids

A tree needs active protection at various stages of growth. When leaf blooming is observed, or buds begin to appear, the attack of aphids leads to the weakening of the tree. A decrease in yield is one of the manifestations of the disease.

Folk remedies:

• processing with herbal infusions;
• spraying with tar solution;
• whitewashing of trunks (you can whitewash in spring and autumn);
• spraying (with ammonia, shampoo, soapy water).

Timely assistance can reduce the harm from the aphid colony or prevent its formation. Urea and ammonia (spray solutions) work well.

Spring spraying from aphids and other pests

It is recommended to use the herbal remedy as a supplement or during the prophylaxis phase. It has a mild effect on the tree, helps scare away, but does not always completely eliminate the source of damage. Among the most effective:

• Garlic liquid - 5 liters of water and 50 g of chopped fresh garlic. Essential oils repel aphids and protect the treated surface from the formation of fungus;
• Infusion with tobacco (0.5 l of water and 100 g of dry tobacco);
• Infusion using celandine, potato and tomato tops (plants must be taken in the same quantity).

Spraying is carried out in the spring stage of leaving, when the bud setting has not yet begun, in the summer (June).

Chemical ways to protect the garden from aphids

Chemicals are applied in several stages:

• in early spring (after the snow melts);
• after swelling of the kidneys (the kidney should not fully open).

Additionally, drugs are subdivided into:

• systemic - plant watering and spraying, repeat after 14 days;
• contact - spraying;
• intestinal effects - have a penetrating effect.

Each of the drugs must be used according to the instructions. Examples of funds - Confidor, Fufan, BI - 58.

Timely spraying of trees in the spring from pests and diseases is carried out by means of strong in the severity of the effect - insecticides. Examples - Thunder, Provotox. Their use involves processing near plants, according to the instructions for a particular tool. The validity period reaches 20 days.

Biological methods

These methods in the fight against a pest involve the connection of natural enemies. Sometimes just processing is not enough, you need to use complex protection. Among biological methods of protection:

• planting tansy (it attracts ladybirds, which are natural enemies of aphids);
• the use of red ants to control black ants, which are carriers of pest larvae;
• planting elderberry, garlic, horseradish, wormwood or mustard next to fruit trees and bushes - aphids do not tolerate the characteristic aroma from these plants.

Biological methods include ash spraying.

Correct neighborhood increases planting protection

Mechanical methods

An effective popular way to combat a pest is to use a strong directional flow of water. The jet manages to wash away the colony and the honeydew left by it. Fly tape is also used. With its help, you can collect aphids manually.

For quick and guaranteed protection, an aphid trapping belt is installed. The device can be purchased ready-to-use or do-it-yourself. Various materials are used for the trap: cloth, paper, cardboard. The width of the strip is about 30 cm. Installed on a tree trunk in early spring (before awakening). It acts as a barrier and prevents aphids from forming a colony.

Treatment of trees in the spring from pests and diseases

The gardener must know how to protect and keep trees safe from ants, aphids and other pests. Spraying and timely treatment can reduce the likelihood of disease. For an effective effect, you need to observe proportions and spray and process strictly in time.

When to treat trees from pests in spring

For the first time, you can spray in early spring. If chemicals are selected, the period should be selected before leaf break or after harvest. If biological or folk remedies are chosen, the processing is carried out in several stages.

Spraying and processing by folk methods are carried out:

• at the time of bud break;
• during the flowering period;
• during the formation of ovaries.

How to spray fruit trees in spring

The early period (early spring) involves the treatment of fruit trees with a solution of lime and copper sulfate. Bordeaux infusion should be used for the reason that copper sulfate is an effective protection against diseases, pests and fungi. The spraying method is effective, but must be carried out in several steps:

• to swelling of the kidneys;
• at the time of the opening of the kidneys (a 3% solution is used);
• during the growing season (1% solution).

The ready-to-use solution has a light blue hue, the acidity indicators are slightly alkaline. If the shade is green, then the composition is not suitable for use. The iron component (Fe) or laundry soap should also not be added. They can cause excessive amounts of copper salts in the soil.

In order to protect the garden area and fruit trees, when aphids have already appeared, chemical agents are used.They have a targeted effect and are guaranteed to eliminate pests. Examples of funds - Fitoferm, Aktara.

Preventive work

The following measures will help reduce the likelihood of aphid colony formation:

• mowing grass near trees in spring and autumn;
• elimination of anthills;
• whitewashing of trunks and the lower part of shrubs.

Additionally, it is recommended to monitor the health of plantings - on sick and weakened trees, aphids form colonies faster. The introduction of ash and lime into the soil will allow the plantings to receive the optimal amount of nutrients.

How to reduce the risk of plant infestation with parasitic insects? Properly selected plants - neighbors will help to protect the orchard. Parasites do not like pungent odors, so it is recommended to plant dill or onions. Coriander and apple tree are good neighborhood options. Plots of onion or garlic in the immediate vicinity reduce the risk of infestation by parasitic insects due to the pungent odor of crops.

How to protect trees from ants

On time it is necessary to carry out work related to protection from ants. They carry diseases that weaken trees. The following are used as an effective measure of influence:

• protective cone;
• glue;
• trapping belt.

Ant glue on trees

The composition is applied to the barrel. It does not allow insects to climb up. As a result, the likelihood of the larvae reaching areas convenient for development (leaf plate) is reduced. Processing must be carried out in the spring.

Ant hunting belts on fruit trees

You need to know not only when to spray trees, but also how to additionally protect them from the invasion of ants. The trapping belt helps with this. It is recommended to glue it low, renew it every season. You can form a cone - a trap so that the ants cannot get out and damage the trunk.

Barrel whitewashing - effective protection

How to whitewash trees in spring

Until flowering begins, you need to whitewash the trunks and lower parts of the shrubs. Gardeners need to know where to start their treatment to achieve the greatest efficiency. You need to start from the ground. The optimal time is autumn. During this period, it is easy to eliminate pests and fungal spores. Preliminary processing of the trunk from the old bark and healing of damage with garden pitch are carried out. For work, a solution is used - 10 liters of water and 2 kg of slaked lime.