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No sign of aphids will soapy water do any harm



Leaf_1 Leaf_3

Answers

 

Probably too cold for aphids, lol. Soapy water made with soft soap, preferably organic, is the classic way of controlling these unwelcome pests and, as long as you use an uncomplicated liquid type soap shouldn't hurt at all, even if there are no aphids around.

15 May, 2012

 

Is this a fruit tree of some kind, growing in a raised bed? What's the depth of soil in the bed, or does it sit on top of soil in the garden?

15 May, 2012

 

Yes, actually, Bamboo, looks a bit like peach leaf curl except there is no turning bronze.

15 May, 2012

 

Was the tree already there when you created the raised bed, meaning that there is now soil higher up the trunk than there used to be? This can cause problems for the tree.

15 May, 2012

 

Cheers
No its in a pot in a raised bed & no the trunk is lower than the soil hope this helps Thanks

15 May, 2012

 

Well, I have looked through all my Pest and Diseases books and there is no mention anywhere of any leaf curling problem with Plums, other than the aphids.
So I suggest that you give it a good soaking with a fungicide, as well as looking our for the aphids. They certainly do better planted out in the garden. Even on the smallest of rootstocks, Plum trees do get to a reasonably big size.

15 May, 2012

 

Quote "No its in a pot in a raised bed & no the trunk is lower than the soil hope this helps"

Okay I want to be really clear here, are you saying you buried a pot with the plum tree in the raised bed and that you buried it deeper than it was in the pot? As I have already pointed out burying part of the trunk of a tree can cause problems. Equally how big is the pot and how long has the tree been in it?

If what I am seeing in the photo is the rim of the pot then you have almost certainly buried part of the trunk of the tree.

Also Bamboo asked you if the raised bed is sitting on hardstanding or has soil beneath it, the fact you have potatoes in sacks next to the bed makes me suspect it is on hardstanding. If your plum tree is in a pot sitting on hardstanding with nowhere for the water to go you will have problems.

15 May, 2012

 

Erm, maybe I've missed something, but I can't find any reference from Dave1946 to the fruit tree shown being a plum.
I suspected it was in a pot, I could see the rim of something - if this tree isn't a patio version of a fruit tree, such as Ballerina or smaller, it won't do well contained in such a manner - it would need an open, free and deep root run to remain healthy.

15 May, 2012

 

True Owdb. brought in the plum tree statement...

15 May, 2012

 

Actually, there are many reasons why plums, or similar, can get curly leaves including wrong watering. I know that just referring to another web-site is frowned upon but the info is too long to type out, even paraphrased, so

http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_7465815_leaf-curl-plum-trees.html

explains it much better than I could. Of course, we still haven't been told what type of tree it is so that may not be relevant. I did get curling on my young damson about 3 years ago and couldn't find any obvious reason. It was looking really sick so I used desperate measures and assumed it was a fungus and sprayed it with the appalling Bordeaux Mixture. I can't be sure if it was that that cured it but I haven't had it since. Not much help I know but when you are presented with an unanswerable problem you have to try what you can.

15 May, 2012

 

Look at the question two or three previous and you will see why it is probably a Plum tree.

15 May, 2012

 

Cheers to all, for this info will try to get back to you with as much info

15 May, 2012

 

The sooner you answer our queries Dave9i46 the sooner we can give you useful advice.

15 May, 2012

 

This looks very like what happened to my damson last year and is showing signs of happening again. (See my photos) Last year I couldn't find any sign of pests but this year have found a few small aphids.In a panic I have sprayed it with Bug Clear which is what I happened to have (didn't read the instructions first -slapped wrists) as its what I use in the conservatory for aphids. I had been going to use the garlic spray people recommended last year but the trouble started so early I hadn't got around to it.

Last year the problem went on getting worse until about midsummer when some new leaves grew and were unaffected. Many of this years leaf buds must have bee fatally damaged though, as many of the branches are bare of leaves three quarters of the way along, though it did flower well. So my advice would be to spray it with everything you can think of until something works even if it means you can't eat the fruit this year or you may lose the tree. Not very Eco but trees take a long time to grow and sometimes we have to sacrifice our principles.

And if something does work PLEASE let me know what it was!

15 May, 2012

 

I say again, that tree isn't going to grow properly contained in a pot, especially if the pot is buried in something sitting over hard surfacing.

16 May, 2012

 

My Victoria plum tree its in a pot 20 ins wide X 10 ins deep the root stock is above the soil
Its been in it about 6 years it is on 2 & half foot of good top soil it never gets water logged
It is a patio tree grows 6 ft tall and i have all ways had a good crop....

16 May, 2012

 

If its been buried in its pot under the ground for 6 years, it may well have pushed out roots through the drainage holes in the bottom, but after 6 years, if its not done that, it would be best to plant it directly into the ground. Giving plants optimum conditions means they're able to resist infection and disease much better.
It looks as if its suffered a touch of Plum Leaf Curling Aphid.Treatment for that involves a Tar Wash (Growing Success Winter Tree Wash) on a mild dry day in midwinter, and then spraying with an insecticide (Bayer Provado Ultimate Bug Killer) at bud break. It's now too late to do either of those things this year - subsequent leaves which grow should be unaffected, because the aphids leave the tree by early summer, returning later to lay eggs.

16 May, 2012

How do I say thanks?

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