Fruit tree with small brown holes in leaves

[FlisH]

Hello
Wondering if anyone could help me. I've been lucky enough to inherit some fruit trees on my new allotment plot, was just wondering if anyone could help me identify what sort of tree this is and what is affecting it? I've got some dwarf stock apple trees too, but the apples made them easy to identify! The leaves have lots of brown spots on which are crumbling out and little holes all over

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/s/?...attd&safe=1&zw

[devonuk]

Hello
Wondering if anyone could help me. I've been lucky enough to inherit some fruit trees on my new allotment plot, was just wondering if anyone could help me identify what sort of tree this is and what is affecting it? I've got some dwarf stock apple trees too, but the apples made them easy to identify! The leaves have lots of brown spots on which are crumbling out and little holes all over

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/s/?...attd&safe=1&zw

Link doesn't work. From the description could be shothole virus in plum or damson.

[FlisH]

Thanks for replying, and sorry about the link. Is this any better? Is there anyway of knowing for sure? Or options for treating?

[Lardman]

Looks more like winter moth damage to me. Any sign of anything crawly on there?

[nickdub]

First one is a plum, second probably a cherry.

As they are both young trees the main thing is to help them to grow well.

1) Clear any grass weeds out from round the trunks to a distance of 3 or more feet.
2) If the ground is dry, run a hose pipe under each for an hour or so on v slow.
3) Spread some manure/compost round them

Its only really possible to give more accurate idea of what varieties etc once they have fruit to identify them by. Worth taking a photo with date of when they flower though next year as that is useful info too.

Don't worry about pests and diseases too much - if you get them growing healthily, the trees will fight off most problems themselves (aphid infestations at the tips can be washed of with a jet of water).

If you want to encourage them to form fruit spurs, you can tie the tips down or put a weight on them, to bend the new growth round in a semi-circular shape.

[FlisH]

Looks more like winter moth damage to me. Any sign of anything crawly on there?

I've had a good look and couldn't see anything creepy crawly that looked like a cause, but maybe if it's happened earlier in the year that would explain it. Would that sort of stress be why they haven't fruited do you think?

[FlisH]

First one is a plum, second probably a cherry.

As they are both young trees the main thing is to help them to grow well.

1) Clear any grass weeds out from round the trunks to a distance of 3 or more feet.
2) If the ground is dry, run a hose pipe under each for an hour or so on v slow.
3) Spread some manure/compost round them

Its only really possible to give more accurate idea of what varieties etc once they have fruit to identify them by. Worth taking a photo with date of when they flower though next year as that is useful info too.

Don't worry about pests and diseases too much - if you get them growing healthily, the trees will fight off most problems themselves (aphid infestations at the tips can be washed of with a jet of water).

If you want to encourage them to form fruit spurs, you can tie the tips down or put a weight on them, to bend the new growth round in a semi-circular shape.

Many thanks for that, will try what you have suggested. When I took on the plot they were surrounded by weeds about 4-5 feet high, and one was covered in bindweed. I was worried that I'd have to cut them down if they were infected with something but will much more happily try to nurse them back to health.

[nickdub]

The chances of getting anything serious enough to kill the tree is very low - and obviously if it did happen then the best thing to do would be to dispose of the whole thing asap.

Problems with fruit trees revolve around getting them to grow strongly, and in to a good shape when they are young. Then getting them to set fruit (eg pollination) and keeping it on the tree long enough to eat it yourself as they get bigger - I ate 5 cherries from my one tree this year, the birds and squirrels had about 20+ Kg.

Keep a watch on the new growth as aphids on plums and cherries can be a nuisance - if the colour of the leaves is good and the trees are making plenty of new growth that is a very good sign. Do not prune them at all in the winter - if you do need to cut some growth out, wait until June/July because of possible infections entering the cuts.

Fruit trees have long life times - I moved here in 1983 and some of the trees I planted then are just reaching full size. Unless someone cuts them down, most likely they'll still be cropping in 50 years time.

[devonuk]

Whatever it is, it doesn't look as if a healthy tree should have much problem outgrowing it. At leaf-fall try to collect and remove fallen leaves to reduce the chance of nasties overwintering.

On longevity - my parents bought a house 53 years ago. In the garden was an "extremely elderly" Victoria plum. It is still there and still cropping its head off.

[Jungle Jane]

- I ate 5 cherries from my one tree this year, the birds and squirrels had about 20+ Kg.

You did well!! I got a half a cherry round my parents house,slightly eaten by two earwigs that were in the shield thing I made to cover the cherries (a little plastic bag cut & tied on) (a lot of cherries fried in the bags,its difficult when it's not in your own garden to keep an eye on them) I don't know how much damage earwigs would do but they like eating cherries.
My parents cherry tree had these holes in the leaves & if you find a folded over or brown leaf you might find a tiny moth caterpillar they move fast when you move their web,they could have all turned to moths by now I don't know their life cycle? Early spring check out the leaves & a grease band round the base of the trunk would stop things crawling up,I think the moth caterpillars pupate underground like sawfly so they wouldn't be able to climb up laying eggs.

[nickdub]

L-)

The holes are probably shot-hole type ones which are usually caused by a disease not insect damage - they look unsightly but don't generally cause the tree too big a problem.

Not sure on the moths - obviously you get moths of different types on apples and plums which lay eggs in the fruit - you don't generally see them unless you use a pheromone trap.

Grease bands are designed to catch the flightless types - I've never tried them myself.

[Lardman]

I made to cover the cherries (a little plastic bag cut & tied on) (a lot of cherries fried in the bags,its difficult when it's not in your own garden to keep an eye on them)

If you can't net the tree get some organza bags, they're cheap enough on ebay.