I have 6 fruit trees. 3 apple 1 plum 1 cherry and 1 pear

4 of the trees have leaf curl and are covered with black fly and green/white fly
the leaves are dying at the end of each branch and the fruit that is growing is starting to fall off

the plum and cherry tree are the worst infected. at the beginning the cherry tree was full of fruit but now it is starting to fall off likewise with the pears and apple.

What can i do to save the trees, before they die.?

janet, June 2009

I had this problem on my dwarf cherry tree last year. when the black fly start to infest, i simply cut off the ends that are infected. It may stunt its growth, but i still get a good harvest

sue from bow, June 2010

My book Hessayon DG - The Fruit Expert. says...

"Only one aphid, the cherry blackfly, attacks cherries but its effect can be devastating. Leaves may be severely curled and shoot growth halted. It is therefore essential to kill these pests before they become established. Spray with Malathion or Fenitrothion when they are seen."

He warns of Silverleaf, "The most serious disease of Plums which can also attack Apples, Cherries & Peaches. The spores enter through a wound and the first sign is silvering of the leaves. Die-back of shoots occues; wood is stained. Cut out dead branches 6" below level of infection. Paint cuts with Arbrex. Dig out tree if bracket-like toadstools have appeared on the trunk.

Get the paperback for more...

Good luck...

Peccavi, June 2009