Apple trees and insects

We've got about half a dozen apple trees, that did really badly this year. I've read up on it, and think we need to clear the weeds and grass from around them, and add some fertiliser. The obvious solution for us is to put a temporary pen around the trees, and let our new weaners do their work Very Happy

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I'd like to put some form of sticky round the trunk, to stop insects climbing - would this be toxic to the pigs? Does anybody have any brands they'd recommend ?

tahir

Pigs will root out the young trees!

You could glyphosate around the bases and then mulch with some loose material (bark, compost etc) or put down some kind of plastic mulch sheeting.

Pigs can be devastating to trees so I'd pen off an area around each tree to exclude them.

Have you had much in the way of insect problems?

Minum

Thanks for your reply. They are well established trees that we inherited when we moved in this summer. I dont know if there have been insect problems with them, but there were very few apples this year, so I suspect there has been some sort of problem. There are all sort of weeds round the base of the trees, which is why I'm keen for the pigs to root them out, so we can get rid of insect hiding places.

Our older saddlebacks are on the other side of the land, and have trees in their pen, and they havent harmed the trees all, so I'm confident we can put the weaners in with the apple trees.

I'm just not sure if the grease is harmful to pigs so we have to wait to apply it until we have moved the pigs on.

Tavascarow

If they are old neglected trees then apart from feeding, mulching & removal of weed competition they may be in need of some remedial pruning.
Old trees will crop intermitently but it can be cured with pruning so the crop is evened out over the years instead of a glut one year & few apples another.
Grease banding might improve the quality of the crop & possibly increase the yield a little but I don't think it's the answer.

yummersetter

do you have any idea what varieties they are? Did they flower well?

Ah, just read more carefully, if you only moved in this summer you probably don't know how the blossom was Rolling Eyes

Greasebands will stop wingless moths and the like from going up the trees to lay eggs but the effect of the grubs will most likely be lots of apples with holes or channels in the skin, rather than no fruit. That's more likely to be caused by weather or lack of the right varieties for pollination

lottie

Chickens are great for clearing insect pests round apple trees---wouldn't know what a codling moth looks like here. Very Happy

wellington womble

I was going to suggest chickens. If they are penned in relatively small areas they will clear the ground for you, no problem and munch all the insects with relish!

Minum

THe chickens do like hanging around there, so hopefully they are doing some good, but its not one of their favourite spots. The trees had been pruned before we moved in, so I guess we need to see what happens next year, on a full cycle.

I maybe back this time next year asking for apple tree variety recommendations!

lottie

If they aren't happy about hanging round there I don't think you have an insect problem Very Happy

If they've only just been pruned give it time.

Nick

Put the grease bands 5 foot up?

Tavascarow

Minum wrote:

The trees had been pruned before we moved in, so I guess we need to see what happens next year, on a full cycle.

Sounds like they where badly pruned or pruned at the wrong time.
The normal time for pruning mature apples is when they are dormant in the winter & TBH even though they have been pruned earlier will probably require some pruning again this winter.
This site offers some very good advice.
Smile

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