Plum problems - please help

[InsanityChilli]

Hi, I have been having problems with my plum tree for the past few years and don’t know what to do. The leaves are curling, there are lots of brown/dead leaves, the fruit that is beginning to grow looks all misshapen and it generally looks like it is unhappy.

There are lots of ladybirds but can’t see aphids. Is it insect related? Fertiliser related?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Attached should be a link to some photos https://chilliscience.blogspot.com/p...plum-page.html

[Jay22]

I get that too and it’s always aphids! The fact that the ladybirds are there points to that too I think?

[nickdub]

Looks like aphids or similar - try looking under one of the leaves which are curled up at the edges. Say one of the two larger ones in the second photo.

You don't say how old the tree is or what sort of ground its growing in. Generally I'd recommend clearing any grass from round the trunk and over the root area and also giving it a good dressing of fertilizer now - a couple of wheelbarrow loads FYM for preference.

Generally aphids can be ignored on most trees which are growing well, as, though they look bad, they don't normally damage the tree, and if left the various predators like ladybirds will keep them in check for you.

[InsanityChilli]

Thanks

Hi, Thanks for the advice. I've just had another look and I can see lots of aphids if I open up a leaf. I am loathed to spray it as the ladybirds look happy enough maybe I need to buy some new ladybirds and let them lose as the current ones don't seem up to the job.

I have been here 8 years and the tree looked well established before I got here. It probably is past its best. Must be over 20 years! It had some kind of ornamental grass around its base which I have been trying to remove for years - it appears almost indestructable so that can't be doing it any good. I'll get some fertilizer on the go and see what happens.

thank you.

[nickdub]

You're very welcome.

Sounds like you have the measure of the problem - if the plum used to crop and has stopped, it will either be because of lack of nutrients or a pollination problem most likely. Some times another plum tree is taken out in a neighboring garden, and so your plum is no longer getting the right pollen when it needs it.

A spray of liquid seaweed fertilizer on the leaves you can reach will help the tree strengthen up, and if you know what the variety is we may be able to guess whether pollination has become an issue.

[FB.]

.....I've just had another look and I can see lots of aphids if I open up a leaf. I am loathed to spray it as the ladybirds look happy enough maybe I need to buy some new ladybirds and let them lose as the current ones don't seem up to the job......

Ladybird and hoverfly larvae won't appear until after the aphids are established. The overwintered adults won't lay eggs until there's a good food source because their larvae need to eat a lot of aphids.

Some years ago I photographed bees feeding on aphid excrement, same as ants do. If you nuke the aphids you could also harm any bees which come into contact with the spray which will persist for some time.

And if there are fewer bees, your chances of pollination are poorer.

Good strong healthy trees will shrug off an aphid attack.

[FB.]

And just a few moments ago, I sat looking out the window and some sparrows and a robin landed on one of my aphid-infested apple trees and began pecking at the aphids.

I don't expect 'poisoned' aphids will be particularly good for small birds or their chicks to eat.

[ameno]

Leaf curl aphids have been terrible on my plums this spring. They usually don't attack until later, at which point I usually just leave them be, as the tree is growing strongly.
This year, however, they attacked just as the leaves were emerging. When they attacks new shoots like that, the resultant stems end up stunted and distorted, so I decided I had no choice but to spray them a few days ago.

And just a few moments ago, I sat looking out the window and some sparrows and a robin landed on one of my aphid-infested apple trees and began pecking at the aphids.

I don't expect 'poisoned' aphids will be particularly good for small birds or their chicks to eat.

That won't actually be a problem.
Perethryn insecticides are supposed to be relatively harmless to animals, but more importantly, the aphids shrivel up to nothing in just a few hours of being sprayed. Spray them on evening and there will be nothing left to attract the sparrows, and thus no risk of them eating poisoned aphids, by morning.