In 2017, my neighbourhood was hit with an aphid invasion. Swarms of aphids gathered on fruit trees and other plants, sucking the life out of our beloved trees and plants and leaving them weak and bedraggled. Inevitably, the branches were also covered with a sticky substance that I later learned was aphid poop. Yuk!
Wherever I went, I would see trees in distress. At first, I thought the fruit trees in our community orchard were going to be ok. They seemed to be unaffected. But then, almost overnight, hordes of these tiny critters gathered on the leaves, sucking the juices out of them.
Cherry trees are a beautiful addition to any garden, providing spring blooms and delicious fruit in summer. However, these trees can fall victim to black aphids, a common pest that sucks sap, weakens the tree, and leaves a sticky residue called honeydew. Getting rid of aphids can be tricky, but with some persistence and the right techniques, you can protect your cherry trees.
Identifying Black Aphids
Black aphids are small soft-bodied insects that typically cluster on the undersides of leaves and on new growth. They use their piercing mouthparts to feed on the sap inside the cherry tree robbing it of nutrients. As they feed, they excrete honeydew which drips onto lower leaves and branches. Ants often flock to this sugary substance.
Aphids stunt growth by depriving the tree of nutrients An infestation can lead to curled, yellowing leaves, branch dieback, and poor fruit quality Left uncontrolled, black aphids can even kill young cherry trees.
Physical Control Methods
One of the simplest ways to get rid of aphids on cherry trees is plain water. A strong stream from the hose can blast aphids right off the leaves and wash away honeydew. Focus the water jet on the undersides of leaves and new growth where aphids tend to gather.
You’ll likely need to do this every few days as some aphids will remain hidden or fly back. But it provides immediate relief while you implement other control methods.
Insecticidal soaps also work through physical means. Soap penetrates the aphid’s waxy outer coating and causes its bodily fluids to leak out, leading to dehydration and death. Spray trees thoroughly, especially the undersides of leaves, every 5-7 days. Brands like Safer’s Insecticidal Soap are OMRI certified for organic gardening.
Biological Pest Control
Beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and syrphid flies all feed on aphids. Attract them to your yard by planting flowers like cosmos, marigolds, and daisies nearby. You can also buy populations of ladybugs and lacewings to release. They’ll stick around if there’s food, shelter, and water.
Parasitic wasps are tiny insects that lay eggs inside aphids. When they hatch, the larvae eat the aphid from the inside out! Avoid pesticides so these wasps keep working. Plant small flowering plants to support them.
Prevention with Dormant Oils
Dormant oils smother overwintering aphid eggs before they hatch. Apply the oil spray thoroughly when trees are dormant in late winter. This also controls mites, scales, and other pests. Stick to one application per season and avoid spraying buds or greenery.
Other Chemical Controls
Insecticidal soaps and oils are the best chemical options for organic management. But if infestations persist, other pesticides may be warranted. Neem oil disrupts the aphid life cycle and is approved for organic growing. Horticultural oils like Superior Type 70 kill aphids on contact.
As a last resort, use targeted insecticides like malathion or acephate. Avoid broad-spectrum chemicals that will kill beneficials. Follow all label directions carefully. Improper use can damage the tree.
Integrated Pest Management
The best approach combines multiple tactics—what’s known as integrated pest management (IPM). For example:
- Blast aphids off with water for immediate relief
- Release ladybugs and lacewings to feed on them
- Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5-7 days
- Spray trees with dormant oil before spring bud-break
- Plant flowers that attract beneficial insects
With persistence, an IPM plan will reduce aphid numbers so tree damage is minimal. Your efforts will pay off with lush foliage and bountiful cherries!
Summary of Key Points:
- Black aphids cluster on the undersides of leaves and new growth, feeding on sap.
- Heavy infestations cause stunting, curling leaves, branch dieback, and poor fruit quality.
- Control methods include blasting with water, insecticidal soaps, beneficial insects, dormant oils, and pesticides.
- Combining multiple tactics through integrated pest management is most effective long-term.
- With persistence, you can get rid of aphids and enjoy healthy, productive cherry trees!
Getting rid of black aphids on your cherry trees takes some work, but it’s worthwhile to protect these beautiful trees. Implement a targeted IPM plan and you’ll reap the rewards for years to come. Your efforts will support tree health so you can enjoy those spring blooms and summer cherries!
Getting rid of aphids on fruit trees with insecticidal soap
Simple, homemade insecticidal soap can kill aphids. You can make it at home (recipe below) and spray the aphids every few days. When the soap spray covers aphids, it penetrates the protective waxy layer on their bodies and messes with their ability to retain water. Then the moisture in their little bodies leaks out and the aphid becomes dehydrated and dies.
But that process takes time and calls for repeated applications. The cherry trees in the Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard are quite large, so that wasn’t an option for us.
You can wash aphids off the leaves of your tree with water. This prevents immediate feeding on the leaves, but some of the aphids will find their way into the canopy again.
Getting rid of aphids on fruit trees with dormant sprays
When it comes to fruit trees, the best cure for almost every problem is prevention. And there is one spray that I think every home grower should use that can protect fruit trees from many types of insect pests.
I am talking about dormant oil sprays. These sprays are applied during the winter months when the tree is dormant and has no leaves, blossoms or fruit. The oils in the spray coat the branches and bark of your tree, suffocating overwintering insects that are hiding in cracks and crevices.
If you want to get rid of aphids on your fruit trees, there are various dormant oil sprays to choose from including Green Earth Dormant Spray Kit and Monterey Dormant Horticultural Oil. Whatever you choose, carefully read the instructions, because if you apply these oils incorrectly, you can seriously damage your tree.
And in any case, if you already have aphid activity on your fruit trees, you’re probably too late for a dormant spray since the tree will no longer be dormant. So, let’s look for the next option when it comes to killing aphids on fruit trees.
Black aphids on cherry
FAQ
How to get rid of black aphids on a cherry tree?
Diazinon, Malathion or insecticidal soap can be used. You may need two or three treatments with the soap, but it is the safest product.
How do I get rid of black aphids permanently?
- Remove aphids by hand by spraying water or knocking them into a bucket of soapy water.
- Control with natural or organic sprays like a soap-and-water mixture, neem oil, or essential oils.
- Employ natural predators like ladybugs, green lacewings, and birds.
Can black aphids kill a tree?
Heavy infestations may kill young trees and reduce crop quality and quantity and return bloom on mature trees.Mar 27, 2023
What is the black stuff on my cherry tree?
Black knot is a common fungal disease of Prunus trees including ornamental, edible, and native plum and cherry trees. Hard swollen black galls (tumor like growths) form on branches and occasionally on trunks. Many Prunus trees tolerate black knot.