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Sunday, 6 May 2012

Apple Tree Inspection

I noticed buds coming on my pot grown self fertilising apple tree. As I was studying it I noticed some Spring visitors (uninvited guests). If you don't like creepy crawlies maybe don't scroll down.

The first year I noticed worms eating on the tree, I thought, well nature will look after itself, and I got about 3 apples off the tree.

The second year I noticed the worms, I picked them off and I got about 14 apples.

This year I've a watchful eye and hoping for a bumper crop of apples!
The tree looked good, until I saw some holes in leaves  (pictured below). A sure sign!
Upon closer inspection, I saw a few little green worms that are already eating on my plant! So I set about looking thoroughly all over. Even the ladder came out so I could inspect up high!
Above: what seems to be happening, many of the edges of young leaves on the tree are folded and stuck together with a web/cocoon. I found mostly green worms but also a few black ones like the one above. I thought the black ones are just younger green ones?  They munch on the leaves and buds of the tree.
I grow apples organically so the option I took was hand removal. A lovely job (I try not to think about it). I'll have to check it regularly as whatever they are affect the number of apples I get.

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13 comments:

  1. Sue Garrett6 May 2012 at 01:54

    It's not easy to identify caterpillars , Kelli as they often change as they grow. I wouldn't have thought the black on was the same as the green one though. Do the green ones wriggle backwars when you touch them and are the black ones really caterpillars? Do you put grease bands around the trunk of your tree?

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    1. Kelli6 May 2012 at 02:39

      Hi Sue, I'm not too sure if the green worms wriggle backwards. When I was picking them off I just recall they lay on their sides when placed on the ground. I'll have to check. I meant to put a grease band around the trunk but never got round to it. I really need to do that in future.

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  2. Karin / Southern Meadows6 May 2012 at 04:10

    Kellie, it sounds like a type of leafroller. Once they hatch, they create a protective shelter by rolling up a leaf or attaching several leaves together with webbing. Then, they consume the leaves. A severe infestation can partially or completely defoliate a tree. Fruittree leafrollers also attack and consume the developing fruit, causing it to fall prematurely from the tree. These insects rarely threaten the life of the fruit tree. Insecticidal oils, applied when the eggs are dormant in late winter and early spring, can control the population of fruittree leafrollers. Or, spray the tree as soon as the larvae begin hatching to protect developing fruit. Good luck! I hope you get a great crop of apples!

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    1. Kelli6 May 2012 at 13:10

      Thanks Karin. I googled leafroller and it is a possibility. There are many common characteristics that seem to point to leafroller moth.

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  3. Jo6 May 2012 at 06:41

    I've only just bought my apple tree so I shall be on the look out for these critters now. There's always a pest for every type of crop, isn't there?

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  4. elaine 6 May 2012 at 07:43

    Oo I'm just rushing out to check mine now - they are all out to get us!

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  5. Mark Willis6 May 2012 at 11:56

    It's times like these that one's organic gardening principles come under the greatest pressure! Sorry, but I would have sprayed the tree if it were mine (though choosing what to spray it WITH might be a challenge, since there are so many bugs about!)

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  6. Crystal6 May 2012 at 12:27

    Just been out to check my trees too. Fortunately my trees are planted close to the bird feeders, and the birds seem to deal with any pests on the trees. But then again, sometimes they get a bit giddy and pull the blossom off as well.

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  7. ann6 May 2012 at 21:20

    Too bad about the apple worms. We have two mature apple trees and resist spraying them, but then we have wormy apples. But I don't think that we will be having man apples this summer because the blooms got frosted. The apple worms actually begin in the ground. I am not too well informed on dealing with apple trees because I don't want to spray either. Hope you have grand harvest with all of your effort. Have a wonderful week.

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  8. Peggy7 May 2012 at 11:14

    Hi Kelli,we have one small apple tree which despite lots of blooms only supplies abotu 8 small apples each year,after reading your post I must check for any sign of worms etc I had never thought of doing it before!

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  9. Egretta Wells blog7 May 2012 at 15:52

    Hi Kelli, hopefully you can get off the majority and save the apples! The buds look so pretty and I hope you have a big crop of nice apples.

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  10. Malar7 May 2012 at 20:06

    Hope you can have a lot of apples to harvest soon! I hate caterpillars!...

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  11. Unknown4 July 2012 at 13:01

    Your apple tree is looking good, Kelli. True, removing those 'unwanted guests' by hand can be a good option. Using substances to expel these crawlers can damage your precious apple tree. These are some nice photos you shared, by the way. =)

    -Kaye Mcmillan

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