Treatment rules and 20 best remedies for dealing with aphids on apple trees

People who have been growing apple trees for a long time often encounter dangerous pests. Aphids are considered the most dangerous, as they can kill newly planted trees. To get rid of them, you need to understand how to deal with aphids on apple trees.

Aphids: biological characteristics of the pest

Aphids are considered a fairly common pest, appearing on many plants. Distinguishing features of adults include a small proboscis, which they use to suck plant sap. These insects are no more than seven millimeters in size and are dark gray in color. However, other species also have a reddish color.

On apple trees, aphids lay eggs, from which entire colonies of pests grow in the spring, feeding on the juice from the leaves and stems.

Reasons for appearance in apple plantings

There are several reasons why pests appear on trees. These include the following:

• The foliage contains a high amount of amino acids. Most often, the pest attacks seedlings due to an excess of amino acids in the leaves.
• Nitrogen deficiency. Trees that lack nitrogen often become diseased and susceptible to insect attacks.
• Growing near infested plants. Sometimes, apple trees become infested because they are grown near seedlings infested with aphids.

Types and signs of damage

There are several types of aphids that most often attack young apple trees:

• Red gall aphid. This is the most common type of insect that feeds on apple tree sap. Many people think this gall aphid is red, but this is not true. It is a steel-gray color with a slight brown tint.
• Mealybug. Another apple aphid that appears on fruit trees. After mealybug emergence, the foliage begins to develop yellow spots and dry out.
• Leaf spot. It appears on the leaves of many plants grown in the garden or vegetable garden. It is completely green, with a slight yellowish tint. When the leaf spot pest appears, the affected foliage curls and dries.
• Cochineal aphid. Blood aphids, also known as cochineal aphids, sometimes appear on columnar apple trees. They are bright red, making them hard to miss. They feed on leaves and young shoots.

Why is an aphid infestation dangerous for a tree?

Some people believe that aphids can't harm apple trees, but this is not true. If this dangerous pest is not eliminated promptly, the affected trees will wither. First, yellowish spots will appear on the foliage. Then the leaves will curl and dry out, and the apple tree will stop bearing fruit.

Methods of combating parasites

To get rid of the pest, you need to familiarize yourself with the most effective control methods. There are several ways to remove aphids from apple trees:

• Chemical treatments. These are considered the most effective and help rid trees of a large number of pests.
• Folk remedies. People who don't like using chemicals spray their trees with folk remedies. These include soap solutions and herbal infusions.

Summer processing times by month

Apple trees should be treated for pests during the summer. It's recommended to familiarize yourself with the monthly spraying schedule in advance.

June

Apple trees should be treated in June immediately after flowering. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out the procedure in the first days of the month. Experts recommend spraying apple trees 2-3 times in June, as a single spray will not eliminate aphids. The interval between each treatment should be 3-4 days.

July

Some people believe there are fewer aphids in July, but this is untrue. In mid-summer, this pest actively infests apple trees and other garden plants. Therefore, trees are sprayed starting in early July. If you start treating summer seedlings early, you can get rid of the pests without using dangerous chemicals. Winter apple varieties will need to be sprayed with specialized insecticides.

August

In August, the ripening period of the fruits formed on the twigs begins. Many experts advise against spraying fruit trees during the fruiting period. However, sometimes the trees are so infested with aphids that they must be removed. It's important to use products that won't harm the ripening crop.

Experienced gardeners spray seedlings with a superphosphate decoction or a mixture prepared from Imidacloprid.

How to properly treat an apple tree

Before treating your trees, there are a few recommendations to follow. Spraying should be done when the temperature is above 15 degrees Celsius. It should also be windless to prevent the liquid from splashing onto nearby plants.

Before starting work, you need to prepare special protective equipment, which includes rubber gloves, safety glasses and a respirator.

Preparations and methods of destruction

There are several methods and medications that can help destroy parasites.

Physical destruction

This method is suitable for people who do not want to spray seedlings with chemicals and other pest control agents.

Natural enemies

Aphids have natural enemies that can feed on this pest. The insect fears ladybugs, earwigs, ground beetles, parasitoid wasps, and weevils. Common birds, which can feed on aphids, are also considered enemies. However, the ladybug is considered the most dangerous, capable of consuming over two hundred parasites in a day.

Hunting belt

Sometimes, tree pests are controlled using a special trapping belt. Before using this design, it's important to familiarize yourself with its construction. To create a trapping belt, a fabric coated with an adhesive solution is secured around the tree trunk.

The aphids will stick to the installed belt and will not be able to harm the foliage and branches of the apple tree.

Chemicals

If there are too many parasites, you will have to use chemicals.

"Inta-Vir", "Karate"

Chemicals such as "Karate" and "Inta-Vir" can help protect apple trees from insects. To kill the pests, prepare a working solution in advance. Add two tablets of the solution to ten liters of warm water. Stir the mixture and let it steep for 30-40 minutes. Spray in the evening, after the sun has set and the wind has died down.

Kinmix

This is an effective, comprehensive treatment that helps eliminate not only aphids but also other dangerous pests that attack apple trees. When treating fruit trees, Kinmiks is used at least twice a week. To prepare the solution, add 100 ml of the product to 10 liters of water. One and a half liters of liquid is used per tree.

"Oleokuprit" 4%

The product "Oleocuprit" will help treat diseased apple trees and remove dangerous pests. It contains petroleum oil and copper naphthenate. When used correctly, "Oleocuprit" can completely eliminate aphids and even some diseases. Experts recommend using a weak, 4% solution. To make it, add 400 grams of "Oleocuprit" to 10 liters of liquid.

Nitrofen

A chemical called Nitrofen can help eliminate aphids. It should only be used in early spring, as its components can burn the surface of the foliage. Fruit trees are treated with a 3% solution. Therefore, when creating the working mixture, add 250-350 grams of Nitrofen to a 10-liter container of water.

Karbofos

The most toxic product is considered to be "Karbofos," which is capable of eliminating all pests. It should be used after flowering, as it can harm the bees that pollinate the trees. Karbofos should be used early in the morning or late in the evening, when the temperature drops below 12-15 degrees Celsius.

Biological methods

Some gardeners avoid spraying their trees and instead use biological methods to control aphids. To do this, they plant foul-smelling plants near their apple trees. These plants repel pests and prevent aphids from appearing. These include:

• calendula;
• tansy;
• garlic;
• chamomile.

Biological methods of pest control also include removing anthills in the garden, which attract aphids.

Folk remedies

If pests appear on apple trees, take immediate action to eliminate them. Several folk remedies can help get rid of them.

Soda

Baking soda, a common household ingredient, can help remove aphids from leaves and twigs. The benefits of using a baking soda solution include not only eliminating the pests but also providing the tree with calcium.

To prepare the mixture, add 250 grams of baking soda to a liter of water. Water the tree with the prepared mixture. Repeat this process twice a day.

Spices

Special spices can help remove aphids from apples and leaves. Experienced gardeners use spices made from cinnamon and pepper. 100-200 grams of each are diluted in 7-9 liters of water, then applied to the plants. Doing this too frequently is not recommended. Treatment should be carried out once a week.

Soap

Regular laundry soap can be used to make soap solutions to combat aphids. Grate one bar of soap and then mix it with water heated to 50-60 degrees Celsius (122-140 degrees Fahrenheit). To give the mixture a repellent scent, add a little kerosene. Treat your apple trees twice a week until the pests are completely gone.

Tobacco

Tobacco dust is a versatile pest control product that can be used at any time. It's most commonly used in a diluted form. Add 150 grams of tobacco powder to a ten-liter bucket of water. Let the mixture steep for 6-8 hours, after which it can be applied to the seedlings. Tobacco is used sparingly, twice a day for ten days.

Ammonia

Regular ammonia diluted in water will help remove aphids. To make the solution dilute, mix it with fifteen liters of liquid. Spray with the ammonia solution only in the evening or morning. Do not spray during the day to avoid accidentally burning the leaves. When spraying plants with ammonia, wear a respirator and gloves.

Garlic infusion

Apple trees can be sprayed with a garlic infusion, which helps kill aphids. Grind several heads of garlic in a meat grinder, then mix the mixture with water in a ratio of one part to three parts. Then, transfer the mixture to a dark place where it will steep for about a week and a half. Afterwards, mix the mixture with water again and spray the apple tree.

Ash infusion

A popular folk remedy for pests is an infusion made from ash. To create a spray for fruit trees, mix 450 grams of the mixture with 7-8 liters of cold water. You can also add household chalk to the mixture. Let the solution steep for two days, after which spray.

Onion peel

Apple trees grown in the garden can be sprayed with an infusion of onion peels. It not only repels aphids but also prevents the appearance of other pests. Add the onion peels to a pot of water. Then place the container on a stove and bring to a boil. Let the infusion steep for 5-6 hours, after which it is sprayed on areas where aphids congregate.

Ammonia

Ammonia will help kill aphids and protect apple trees from insects. Mix 100 ml of alcohol with 10-12 liters of plain water. Spray the trees with the resulting solution 2-3 times every 10-15 days. Use 5-6 liters of the alcohol solution per tree.

Infusions and decoctions of pungent and fragrant herbs

You can repel pests from fruit trees with infusions made from fragrant and pungent herbs. Wormwood or St. John's wort are most commonly used for these infusions. Trees can be treated with these infusions daily.

Yarrow

If pests begin to appear on your apple tree, you can spray it with a yarrow mixture. To do this, pour a kilogram of dried yarrow into hot water. Let it steep for half an hour, then pour cold water over it and let it steep for 30-40 hours.

Tomato tops

Trees are often treated with a tomato top infusion. It's quite simple to prepare. To do this, place 4-5 kilograms of tomatoes in a bucket of water and leave for 2-3 hours. Then drain the water and use it to treat apple trees.

Mustard

Mustard powder is sometimes used to control aphids. It is scattered near trees and left there for 1-2 weeks. The distinctive mustard smell repels the pests and protects the plants. To enhance the aroma of the powder, it is poured with hot water.

How to protect a tree from recurrence

Many gardeners don't know how to permanently protect mature trees from aphids and other pests. It's necessary to periodically treat the trees with fungicidal solutions and herbal infusions. You can also plant pest-repellent plants near the apple trees.

Protecting seedlings from aphids

The main characteristic of young apple trees is their short stature. Therefore, if aphids appear on these seedlings, they can be removed by hand. To prevent them from appearing on the foliage and twigs, regularly water the trees with an infusion of shag or tobacco.

Conclusion

Apple gardeners must periodically deal with aphids. It's recommended to familiarize yourself with the most effective pest control methods in advance.