Easy-care fruit trees are plagued by pests despite their good location. We reveal practical tips to avoid and recognize pests. Find out interesting facts about natural methods against uninvited plum inhabitants.
Which pests attack plum trees and how can I combat them?
Common pests on plum trees include moths, plum moths, plum leaf pouch gall mites, plum sawflies and aphids. Countermeasures include removing infected fruits and leaves, installing nest boxes, and supporting natural predators.
Moths (large butterflies)
The butterfly places its eggs on the young plum fruit. After hatching, the caterpillars bore into the fruit. Shortly afterwards the plums turn bluish and fall to the ground.
Remove the fruit around the tree. Natural predators contain the infestation. A nesting box (€11.00 on Amazon) for songbirds is suitable.
Plum moth (Grapholita funebrana)
These pests often attack damson and plum trees. Small, soft fruits fall from the tree between June and September. A reddish colored caterpillar lives inside.
The pupae of the crepuscular moth overwinter in the ground. To do this, pick off any fallen fruit and dispose of it in the household waste. How to prevent the next generation from hatching.
Plum leaf pouch gall mite (Phytoptus similis)
Leaves and fruits show signs of infestation. Remove these from the plum tree immediately. Dispose of fallen plums and leaves with household waste. The domestic plum is particularly at risk.
A dry and sunny location prevents these pests. A regular grooming cut is also recommended.
Signs:
- Leaves: bag-shaped bubbles on leaf edges and tips
- Fruits: take on atypical shapes
Plum sawflies (Hoplocampa flava and Hoplocampa minuta)
During the summer, small pierced fruits fall to the ground. Their fruit stalks remain on the tree. If the fruit sets are abundant, no control is necessary.
Aphids (primarily: Brachycaudus cardui)
Colonies accumulate on the young flower tips as early as spring. Remove these consistently. According to natural laws, aphids lay their eggs in their “home place”. The use of natural enemies is also recommended.
Tips & Tricks
He althy plum trees rarely suffer from pest infestation. The annual addition of compost supports the holistic development of older specimens (from 5 years).