(Question)
Hi,
My Cherry tree has insects on it, which are eating up the leaves. How can I get rid of them?
Please suggest remedies.
Thanks,
Sheena
(Answer)
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners. The insects on your cherry tree are black cherry aphids. They can cause severe damage to young trees but since your tree is a mature one, it is possible to wait out the infestation. Midsummer the insects leave the trees to feed on weeds of the mustard family. If you think however, that the infestation is too severe, there are a number of things you can try:
- Spray the tree with a heavy spray of water to knock the aphids off.
- Spray the tree with insecticidal soap spray.
- Attract predator lacewings that will eat the aphids by spraying the tree with a commercial yeast and sugar mixture.
- Next year in the early spring you can spray the tree with dormant oil to suffocate aphid eggs left on the tree.
For more information: https://extension.psu.edu/tree-fruit-insect-pest-black-cherry-aphid
June 9, 2021