What's eating my rowan?

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) is relatively pest-resilient but suffers from aphids on new growth, rowan-specific sawfly caterpillars eating leaflets, and birds (waxwings, thrushes, blackbirds) stripping berries in autumn. Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) is a serious bacterial threat shared across the Rosaceae family. Aphids are the most consistent annual pest.

Leaves at shoot tips tightly rolled and distorted; stunted growth; sooty mould on honeydew. Spray insecticidal soap or neem oil at bud burst before colonies establish inside rolled leaves. Encourage natural predators. Healthy trees outgrow moderate attacks.

Slimy olive-green slug-like larvae skeletonise upper leaf surfaces; leaves turn brown and papery. Dust affected leaves with kaolin clay or wood ash to desiccate larvae. Squash by hand on small trees. Spinosad spray for heavy infestations.

Blossoms and shoot tips blacken and wilt in a shepherd's-crook shape; cankers form on branches. Prune out infected shoots 30 cm below visible infection; sterilise tools between cuts with 70% alcohol. Notify plant health authority if suspected in UK (notifiable in some regions). No curative spray available.

Berry clusters stripped in late autumn and winter; entire crop can be taken in a single flock visit. In garden settings, consider this a wildlife benefit rather than a pest. Netting is impractical on a mature tree; select a planting position where berry loss is acceptable.