Todgrow Forum

ok i bought a green/yellow acer tree last year and this year its really blooming and looks beautiful... only problem is i discovered yesterday loads of little black aphids , i think they are aphids but they are like small black flies. gulp i thought, i dont want those devouring my tree. anyway i went up to riggs garden centre and happened to look at some other acer trees, and the green leafed 'acers' up there are covered in these litle black pests too ! so its not just mine then.... i saw the queen pest on one of their acers too ! she was huge with wings ! but wierdly enough these black pests are not on the burgandy leafed acers, i have a couple of those and they are pest free.... anyone know how i can get rid of these pests ?

Lady bird larvae are the best thing they gobble them up, but it is still a bit early for them.
This was quite interesting
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1285

I would recommend that you monitor your plants very closely in the future, both for aphids and for other insects. In general, aphids are not a significant problem on Japanese maples, but aphids have the ability to increase their numbers very quickly, so can become a nuisance. Natural predators, parasites and diseases of aphids are very common, but there is usually a time lag before the natural controls make an appearance.

While the following advice may seem counter-intuitive, it often provides the best long-term control: Leave some of the aphids alone. If the infestation becomes excessive (foliage is marked or distorted), hose them off the plants. Natural controls will only become established if there is something to prey upon (why show up at the salad bar if there isn't any salad?). Natural aphid-enemies often frequent areas where there are nectar-producing flowering plants.

This link to a commercial site has an excellent article on attracting beneficials.
__________________
Douglas Justice
Associate Director
Curator of Collections and Research Scientist

ok cheers for that, but the local garden centre has swarms of these pests on their maples. looks like its a 'seasonal' thing then and i will hose them regularly.

I have 2 acers (red) and last week they were growing beautifully. I've had them about 6 years and they're about 4 foot tall each. Yesterday I noticed that the leaves on one of them looked to be shrivelling up, the other one is fine. I can't see any bugs on them and this happened last year to this one too. Does anyone know what the problem might be?

I lover acers, I think they are pretty tough, but I did find thison the beeb site, while looking for something else.
hope it helps.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/01/08/acer_feature.shtml


Ann asks...


Hi Bill I planted a young japanese acer (Katsura) in the spring and noticed a few days later that the leaves on the tips of the stems were turning brown and withered. Thinking it was settling into its new home, I left it alone. However all the leaves have now died but they have not dropped off in spite of recent heavy rain hitting the plant. Is it possible for an acer to be affected by Fireblight? If not your opinion would be appreciated. P.S Waterlogging has been ruled out, the land has good drainage and other young acid loving plants in the same area are thriving.

Bill replies...


Japanese Acers need to be situated in a shady and sheltered position and I am sure that your Acer has suffered from wind scorch damage and the recent extreme weather conditions. I am however sure that when the weather improves your Acer will produce new leaves. Regarding fire blight your Acer will NOT have been affected by this