What's eating my true service tree?

True Service Tree faces aphids on young shoots, codling moth larvae inside the fruit, and fire blight bacterial disease often spread by insects. Deer will browse young trees heavily. Aphids are the most consistently troublesome pest, appearing reliably every spring on new growth.

Dense colonies on shoot tips cause leaf curl, sticky honeydew, and stunted new growth. Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds and hoverflies; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilising.

Larvae tunnel into developing sorbs, leaving a frass-filled hole and causing premature fruit drop. Hang pheromone traps from late spring to monitor adult flight; apply kaolin clay to fruit; use codling moth granulovirus spray timed to egg hatch.

Deer browse young shoots and rub antlers against bark, ringbarking or killing young trees. Fit tall tree guards or deer fencing around young specimens; plant in a protected area until the trunk is substantial.