How to get rid of aphids on cherries and how to treat them, review of drugs and folk remedies

Cherry aphids are a common pest of gardens and vegetable gardens that feed on the sap of young leaves and shoots, which leads to the loss of foliage on trees, followed by loss of crops. How can you get rid of aphids on cherry trees? There are chemical and biological preparations, folk remedies. Their proper use will save the harvest, save and protect trees from harmful insects.

Causes of aphids

Cherry aphids exist in the form of: larvae, wingless, winged, heterosexual individuals. Over the summer, aphids produce several generations. There is an overpopulation of the living space by aphids, and in the fall many winged females are born, which fly long distances in order to capture new places to create colonies.

If a colony of aphids that has invaded trees in a garden plot is not removed during the summer, they will lay overwintering larvae on young shoots near the buds, and in the spring they will begin to multiply with renewed vigor, capturing new trees, bushes and herbaceous plants (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers).

Signs of aphid damage to a tree

Thousands of species of aphids are known. The black cherry aphid, in addition to cherries, affects stone fruit trees: plum, apricot, peach. The first sign of a cherry being captured by aphids is the appearance of shine on young shoots, buds, and blossoming leaves - this is the sweet honeydew that aphids secrete as a result of their vital activity. Aphids do not eat leaves, they only suck out the juice. The leaves, losing moisture, curl up and dry out, and the aphids move to other leaves.

The appearance of ants on trees is another sign of aphids; ants eat sweet honeydew, they guard aphids and carry them to other trees. Along the paths of ants you can find anthills. Ant control is an essential component in the fight against aphids.

To preserve trees and prevent the spread of aphids throughout the garden, aphids are fought with all available methods and means, without wasting time.

Methods for controlling insect pests

There are many ways to combat aphids:

• at the initial stages of the appearance of aphids, a mechanical method of control is suitable, using techniques and devices that prevent individuals from spreading throughout the garden: manual collection and disposal of branches and leaves, glue and grass traps;
• the technological method of control includes the use of modern equipment, tools, technical techniques: killing aphids with a strong stream of water, using sprayers, pumps, fumigation with various compounds;
• chemical pest control includes treating trees with various fungicides;
• biological method is the use of biological preparations and natural enemies of pests;
• traditional methods - the use of skills and available means, the bactericidal and phytoncidal properties of surrounding plants, the knowledge accumulated by gardeners over a long time in the fight against insects.

Competent and timely use of any method or set of measures helps get rid of an aphid infestation. How to save a garden from pests, what method to choose to ensure healthy plant maintenance and get a high yield is up to gardeners to decide.

Mechanical

In the initial stages of infestation by aphid larvae and females, young shoots and leaves can be torn off and disposed of.

In the fight against ants (protectors and carriers of aphids), glue garden traps are used, which prevent the movement of ants along the trunk of cherry trees. Traps are sold in specialized stores. Cultivating the soil of garden plots and timely removal of weeds help in the fight against pests and plant diseases.

Grass traps are prepared independently from fresh grass, which is laid out in a bowl with a high side and sprayed with sweet water.

Biological method

Ladybugs, which feed on adult aphids and larvae, will help destroy aphids without the use of toxic drugs. Plants that will help attract ladybugs to garden plots include coriander, lovage, dill, parsley, fennel, and calendula.

Live biomaterial in the form of ladybugs or their larvae can be purchased at pet stores and planted on trees infested with aphids.

The biological agent Fitoverm has a nerve-paralytic effect on adults through the digestive tract; The drug has no effect on larvae. The treatment is carried out according to the instructions, repeatedly, at twilight, preferably in wet weather (after rains). The drug completely decomposes in light within 2-3 days and is not toxic to the environment.

The drug Akarin is identical in its properties and method of administration to the previous drug.

Iskra Bio: 10 ml bottle, prepare the solution according to the instructions. The drug is highly effective in heat + 25 ⁰With and above the efficiency increases. Does not cause addiction among pests. Plants are treated during the period of flowering, setting and ripening of cherries.

Technological

Technological processing methods include the use of simple folk technologies and modern advances in technological processes and equipment.

Simple technologies include the elementary method of washing off aphids and their larvae using a powerful stream of water. The land in the area where the crown is washed away is treated with chemicals or folk remedies, after which it is necessary to remove and dispose of all vegetation under the crown of the cherry trees.

Under the trees, pieces of rubber tires are lit in a bucket, which emit acrid smoke - it kills aphids and larvae.

There is modern equipment that forms fine mixtures of cold or hot steam with chemical or biological agents.

There are specialized organizations that carry out disinfection measures, both for individuals and in large nurseries, using new technologies and equipment. They take into account all factors and processing conditions, and skillfully use chemical and biological preparations.

Chemical method

Chemicals are used when time is lost and aphids have infested most of the cherry branches. Chemical preparations are selected depending on the timing of treatment, goals, areas of infection, and expected results.

1. Preparation Iskra: dilute 1 tablet in 10 liters of water and spray the cherry tree during the period of swelling of the buds or when the leaves are blooming.
2. The drug Kinmiks: 2.5 milliliters of the drug is diluted in 10 liters, 4 liters are used for a large tree. With this solution, aphids can be poisoned after flowering.
3. Preparation Iskra Zolotaya: 40 grams are diluted in 10 liters of water, solution consumption is 2-5 liters per tree, insects die within 2 days. A long-acting drug, lasting 25 days, protects shoots that appear after treatment.
4. Preparation Iskra-M for caterpillars (also effective against aphids): 5 milliliters diluted in 5 liters of water, consumption per tree - from 2 to 5 liters, depending on the age of the tree and infestation. Has a fast effect.

Folk remedies for fighting insects

Modern chemical and biological preparations for treating plants against diseases and pests appeared in the mid-20th century, with the development of chemical production and biotechnology. There are many folk remedies with which people protected their gardens and vegetable gardens in the past.All fungicides, pesticides, and biological products contain substances of natural origin, obtained or derived by artificial methods.

Therefore, when using folk remedies, it is necessary to observe the concentrations and dosages of preparing infusions, decoctions, and solutions, since they can not only kill harmful insects, but also destroy trees.

Ash

The composition of wood ash includes salts of alkaline earth metals; the aqueous extract of ash is called lye, due to the content of alkali metal salts. Lye has a soapy feel to the touch and has bactericidal properties. A solution of lye in water is enriched with additional substances that have fungicide properties.

Preparation of ash solution with potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate):

• 2 cups of wood ash are poured into 10 liters of hot water, mixed well to dissolve the lye in the water;
• Add potassium permanganate to alkaline water - ½ coffee spoon, mix well;
• the solution should become a rich pink color; a liquid with a high content of potassium permanganate (dark beet color) will burn the plant - such a solution must be diluted with water;
• Strain the solution and spray the trees.

Preparation of ash solution with soap and vinegar:

• 300 grams of ash are poured into a bucket, poured with 3 liters of boiling water, stirred and left for 24 hours;
• add 2 tablespoons of planed tar soap, mix, dissolve the soap;
• add 7 liters of water, mix, filter, add 2 tablespoons of 9% table vinegar (to neutralize the excess alkalinity of the solution so as not to burn the tree branches).

This solution is sprayed on cherry trees before flowering and 2 weeks after flowering.

Garlic

Garlic is a phytoncidal plant - its arrows release phytoncides into the air, which have bactericidal properties, which repel pests. Gardeners plant areas around apple, cherry and plum trees with perennial garlic, which protects the trees from insects, including aphids. Garlic practically removes all pests from the area where it grows.

The garlic infusion is prepared as follows:

• Squeeze out 50 grams of garlic into 10 liters of warm, not hot water, using a manual garlic press (garlic press), mix;
• insist for a day;
• filter through a linen rag, wring out;
• The solution is sprayed onto the cherries.

Dandelion

May and June are the months of abundant flowering of dandelion; with its help you can fight aphids. Fresh dandelion leaves or roots are suitable for this.

Dig up 300 grams of roots or pick 400 grams of fresh leaves, chop the roots, chop the leaves and brew in a warm (not higher than 40 ⁰C) water, leave for 3 hours, filter and treat the diseased tree.

Celandine

Celandine is a plant that can be used to successfully get rid of harmful insects. Celandine is collected in May, during flowering (teared entirely at the root) - at this time, celandine has more bactericidal properties. It must be remembered that the entire plant is poisonous.

The grass is dried in the shade, in a well-ventilated area. The dried grass is ground into powder and pollinated by aphid-infested branches and cherry shoots. Dry celandine powder sticks to sticky leaves, celandine toxins penetrate into the juice of the leaves, the aphid sucks out the poisoned juice and dies.

You can prepare an infusion from celandine: 3 kilograms of fresh plants are crushed and brewed with boiling water (10 liters), left for 2 days or boiled for half an hour.You can brew dry celandine, using 800 grams of previously prepared celandine for the same volume of water.

Soap solution

A solution of 72% laundry soap acts as a contact fungicide (the high alkali content in the soap solution forms a protective alkaline film with a powerful bactericidal effect). If you prepare a soap solution in a decoction of yarrow, you get a drug of combined action: contact and systemic, due to the bactericidal properties of yarrow.

Preparation of a soap solution using yarrow decoction:

• 800 grams of dried grass are crushed, poured with 10 liters of boiling water, left for 2 days (or boiled for half an hour);
• the decoction or infusion is filtered through cheesecloth;
• grate ½ piece of laundry soap, pour into a bucket with infusion, stir until the soap is completely dissolved;
• The prepared solution is sprayed onto branches infested with aphids.

Preparing a soap solution in water:

• grate a piece of laundry or tar soap;
• Dissolve soap shavings in 10 liters of warm water, mix well, let the soap dissolve;
• Spray the infected trees with the resulting solution.

How to process correctly

At cherry tree processing It is necessary not only to correctly use preparations for disinfection, but also to remember the rules for treating trees and precautions against toxic effects on the human body:

• when carrying out treatments with chemicals, it is necessary to use a protective suit, rubber gloves, respirators, and goggles;
• trees are treated in the early or evening hours, taking into account humidity, in accordance with the instructions in the instructions, in order to preserve the insecticidal properties of the solutions;
• the treatment is carried out from the top of the tree crown downwards, the cherry trunks and the area of ​​land around the trunk are treated;
• equipment, protective suit and devices must be washed with detergents;
• preparations are used depending on the state in which the tree is (flowering, ripening of berries, after harvesting).

During the flowering period

During flowering, trees should not be treated with toxic drugs, as this will harm bees and other pollinators. The last time chemical treatment is done is 2 months before the harvest ripens. During flowering, it can be treated with Iskra Bio.

During fruiting

If necessary, during fruiting, trees are treated with biological preparations, since when chemicals are used, toxic substances penetrate into the pulp of the berry and have a poisonous effect on the human body.

Biological products are used: Fitoverm, Akarin, Iskra Bio - they decompose in light within 2-3 days.

After harvest

After harvesting, various chemical preparations can be used: with a quick effect, prolonged action, or a strong toxic effect.

Seasonal preventive measures

Preventive measures to ensure a healthy garden plot and, in particular, cherry trees must be carried out taking into account the seasons, the condition of the trees, the presence and absence of diseases or pests in the past season.

Choosing a place to plant cherries in sunny, ventilated areas is of no small importance for the growth of healthy trees without pests. Cherries are planted away from viburnum and hawthorn, as they attract aphids with their specific odors.

Maintaining a garden cleared of weeds, proper agrotechnical work, and preventive measures against pests create all the conditions for growing healthy trees.

Spring

Spring preventive measures include: agrotechnical interventions in the form of digging up land plots under the crown of trees, whitewashing trunks with preliminary cleaning of the bark, and proper application of mineral fertilizers.

Planting garlic and coriander around tree trunks repels harmful insects; The tops of coriander are trimmed daily - this enhances the release of phytoncides. Calendula and saffron attract ladybugs.

Summer

Summer preventive measures: regular weeding, mulching the land with pine needles, as they contain phytoncides, preventive treatment of trees with long-acting chemicals, in the case of plants infested with aphids in neighboring areas.

Fighting anthills in the garden using drugs: Ant, Thunder and folk remedies, since ants are carriers of aphids.

Autumn

Autumn preventive measures: cleaning and whitewashing trunks, clearing fallen leaves and dry grass around the trunk plot of land, digging up the plot of land. Forming the crown, pruning dry and thickened branches.

Competent and regular implementation of preventive measures creates conditions for growing healthy plants in the garden plot without diseases, pests and for obtaining consistently high yields.