Problem with Damson tree

 

We have a Damson tree (Merryweather) in our garden which has a problem.

Some of the leaves have become very "scrunched up" like a screwed up piece
of paper and some of the fruits are turning yellow.  Does anybody have an
idea of what it is and what can be done to help it.

TIA

--
Steve

 

Steve,

It doesn't sound like one of the more common attackers of plums like brown rot
or Black Knot.  I assume everything else is normal on the tree, like the
blossoms
looked healthy and there are no signs of cankers, etc. on the branches.  Leaves
scrunching up could be aphids.  Look at the underside of the leaves for signs of

them.  Do you ever spray this tree with a fungicide or insecticide?  Is the
problem
evenly distributed over the entire tree, or just certain branches?  I assume the
tree
is watered correctly, and the soil has good drainage.  If there are any other
symptoms,
they might help narrow this thing down.

                                                      Sherwin D.

Steve Rainbird wrote:

 


Thanks for replying Sherwin, I think I have found out what it is.

http://www.rhs.org.uk:80/advice/profiles0302/plum_aphid.asp

Unfortunately the tree is only about 3 years old and it says

"Heavy attacks on a young tree can be more serious as the tree's growth can
be reduced. ".

We will have to wait and see what happens.



--
Steve

 

Steve Rainbird wrote:

I used to have the same problem with my cherry (Montmorency). Black
cherry aphid hit it every year, and it was one of the most bizarre
things I'd ever seen. I learned to get a handle on it, and the damage to
the tree was minimal: only some branches were effected and only a few of
those had to be pruned off. The local County Extension office helped me
out with preventive measures which included just minimal spraying.