White fluff on the apple tree? Be careful, it’s a dangerous pest! Spray it with this decoction and save the tree

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Cotton aphid is a type of aphid found in apple orchards. It is easy to recognize and visible at first glance, because it is characterized by white puffs of down that settle on the branches and bark. They resemble cotton wool, balls of wool or goose feathers. In fact, it is a secretion, which is where its name comes from. How to effectively get rid of it from plants?

Acorn cotton. The greatest threat to apple trees

Aphids prefer to settle on apple trees, but they can also attack pear and quince. They are most visible in August and September. They can also appear earlier, at the turn of May and June. They move from one to the other by the wind, and their development is favored by warm, humid weather. Winged aphids easily move between trees on their own. Pests take away water and nutrients from the apple tree. At the same time, they puncture the bark, as a result of which deep wounds are formed on it, and the shoots are deformed. In the resulting gaps, fungi and bacteria quickly appear, the presence of which can lead to the death of the tree.

Nettle manure. Home remedy for aphids

Before you reach for chemicals, it is worth trying to get rid of cotton at home. Plant nasturtiums and tansy under the apple tree. Their smell effectively repels aphids. You can also prepare an ecological spray against aphids from tansy. Collect 300 g of the herb and pour it with 10 liters of cold water. Leave for one day, strain and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:2. Spray the apple tree with the resulting mixture. Spraying with nettle, otherwise known as manure, will also work well. 300 g of nettle pour 3 liters of water, add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and leave in a shady place for 2 weeks. After this time, strain the mixture, pour it into a spray bottle and spray the places where there is cotton.