Pest identification
What's eating my malus tschonoskii?
Woolly aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum)
Signs: Fluffy white colonies on bark and around old pruning cuts; underlying galls crack and provide entry points for canker fungi.
Control: Physical removal with a brush and methylated spirit. Plant oil sprays kill active crawlers; improve air circulation to reduce re-colonisation.
Winter moth caterpillars (Operophtera brumata)
Signs: Larvae damage flower buds and young foliage in April, weakening the tree and reducing the season's photosynthetic area.
Control: Grease bands on trunk from October. Spinosad or pyrethrin spray targets larvae feeding in April.
Deer
Signs: Browse young foliage and rub antlers against the smooth bark of young trees, causing ring-bark damage at the base.
Control: Fit tree guards or a 1.5 m wire cage around young trees until the trunk is large enough to resist rubbing damage.
Keep malus tschonoskii pest-free
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Malus tschonoskii pests — FAQ
What is eating my malus tschonoskii?
Malus tschonoskii (Pillar apple) grown mainly for autumn colour and upright form faces woolly aphid, winter moth caterpillars, and occasional codling moth. Deer browse young trees and squirrels may strip bark. Woolly aphid is the most persistent damaging pest, colonising pruning wounds and bark crevices year after year.
How do I get rid of woolly aphid (eriosoma lanigerum) on malus tschonoskii?
Fluffy white colonies on bark and around old pruning cuts; underlying galls crack and provide entry points for canker fungi. Physical removal with a brush and methylated spirit. Plant oil sprays kill active crawlers; improve air circulation to reduce re-colonisation.
How do I get rid of winter moth caterpillars (operophtera brumata) on malus tschonoskii?
Larvae damage flower buds and young foliage in April, weakening the tree and reducing the season's photosynthetic area. Grease bands on trunk from October. Spinosad or pyrethrin spray targets larvae feeding in April.
How do I get rid of deer on malus tschonoskii?
Browse young foliage and rub antlers against the smooth bark of young trees, causing ring-bark damage at the base. Fit tree guards or a 1.5 m wire cage around young trees until the trunk is large enough to resist rubbing damage.