Apple tree help!

[zac510]

I have an apple tree that seems to be the local hangout for bugs, eggs and all sorts of the local parasites. No idea what they are but I need help cleaning it up please! They seem to be all over it, no part of the tree is spared. The leaves are wilting under the pressure and look in poor condition.

Thankyou!

[Simpo Two]

Some kind of insecitcide, but if you plan to eat the apples you need to one suitable for edible fruit.

Photos would help us see what you have.

Watering the tree (leave a hose on a slow dribble overnight) would probably cheer it up as the ground is dry.

[Flintstone]

At a guess there'll be aphids which in turn are preyed upon or farmed by ladybirds and ants (although the latter two don't harm the tree). If it's in a weakened state that lets fungi and disease get a foot in the door.

As Simpo said, photos might help with diagnosis.

[zac510]

OK here are some pictures. I've given it a bit of a spray with some insecticide I have but wondering whether I should cut off the damaged leaves and try and give the tree a bit of a fresh start.

Thanks

[zac510]

I forgot to add the soil is quite moist because there are a few other plants in the bed that get watered regularly.

[Flintstone]

Ants and aphids.

Keep spraying with the insecticide and get some sticky band to go around the trunk. If you're consistent with the treatment it will recover.

[Simpo Two]

And make that proper systemic insecticide with lots of hazard warnings, not poncey 'soap'-based stuff which just gives you clean happy aphids...

[tenex]

Simpo Two said:

And make that proper systemic insecticide with lots of hazard warnings, not poncey 'soap'-based stuff which just gives you clean happy aphids...

Let's hear it for the active ingredients!
Agree totally.

[Mr GrimNasty]

It always looks bad, but that isn't actually too bad, far from a critical pest load.
You could simply squish as many as you can with your fingers and use a hose jet to dislodge a few more.
Then the natural predators will get on top of them soon enough.
If you use a systemic pesticide you hit the predators too, and worry about cancer.

[Flintstone]

I had a similar problem, sent my children off ladybird collecting. Set a couple of dozen of them onto the tree, a couple of weeks later lots of baby ladybirds tucking into aphids. Nom nom nom.

[zac510]

Great thanks for all of the help I'll give it some time today and tidy it up. Must pay closer attention to it in future!

[zac510]

I gave it a good tidy up and removed a lot of infested leaves. It looks quite emasculated but I'm sure it's for the better. Used some duct tape backwards as the sticky band. There are quite a few ladybugs and spiders around so I hope they do the rest.

Thanks

[Mr GrimNasty]

I don't usually pull the leaves off, if the tree's small enough to manage them by hand rather than chemicals, I just lightly squidge and wipe between finger and thumb, unfurling any distorted leaves to get at them, just being very careful on any soft new growth. The aphids are so soft they just disintegrate on touch. Anyway, just keep on top of them so that new growth isn't distorted/stunted.

[zac510]

Tape around the base caught dozens of the little blighters in just a day! Doesn't catch the ants though.