Malus Red Jade: Greenfly problem on the new green shoots

Annemos

I have a 20 year old Malus Red Jade. I have pruned it over the years to stop the weeping effect.  

I do this because the long trailing weeping branches stop the sunlight getting to my peonies in early spring.    

So I have ended up with a more horizontal branch structure coming out of the top of the tree. 

My question is concerning this:  I am having a conflict with pruning versus greenfly. 

There are quite a few ants because they love peonies. So I can see ants on the apple tree branches. The fresh green shoots that start sprouting after flowering, quickly become covered with lots of greenfly. The leaves curl. Sticky stuff then drops off and that makes the patio slabs very greasy. The greenfly is too much for me to wipe off.

So I cut those new shoots off to get rid of the nasty greenfly from June onwards. But then I get a lot more green shoots growing with the same problem, because I fear I am pruning too early. (Should pruning really be done in winter when dormant?) It becomes a constant battle! 

I also don't get many fruits. I do have a few flowers in spring. 

I don't want to cut the tree down, because it does provide a bit of security protection from intruders at the back of the garden. I cannot remove the slabs because it is right next to a seating area. But I do not want the greenfly mess. 

Is the fact that I am cutting off all the new green shoots that grow every year after flowering, the reason I am not getting many fruits?

Where exactly on the branches do Malus Red Jade apples grow? I have never been able to work out where that is, in relation to the old wood and/or the new shoots! (The leaves get in the way, so I cannot see where the fruit are being produced.) 

Many thanks in advance for information and advice. 

ArbitraryRandom

Do you think the ants are farming the greenfly? If so, I've heard some people have had luck using tree grease - it stops the ants climbing up the tree to the new growth. You can put it on the trunk, or further up the tree at the base of the branches/new growth. 

You could also consider encouraging more predators into the garden. I've recently been looking into this myself, as I'm trying to make a more pollinator and lacewing/lady bug friendly garden. I'm planting yarrow, fennel, sweet alyssum, verbena, nasturtiums and lavender; all plants the internet tells me will attract the insects I want to deal with the ones I don't. 

Plus I've put up a bee/bug hotel and I'm planning on setting up a few more habitats, to give them a reason to stick around over winter and get an early start in the spring. 

Annemos

Thank you very much for the reply. I would say they are definitely farming the greenfly. (Ughh).

That grease is certainly worth a try. I have never heard of that grease before. The trunk will be very easy to apply to that to.


We are on heavy clay. It is also just a very small courtyard-walled garden with one long raised bed and one long ground level bed. Plus two little squares at ground level which I use for herbs. 

I can only grow about 6 types of plants, because from experience, they are the only ones that do not get attacked by slugs. 

So I do have lovely Lavender. Also a lot of Oregano when it comes into flower. I also have four types of Hardy Geraniums. Japanese Anemones and Sedums. Also some Thyme. 


As an aside, I have been growing Dill and Coriander from seed. 2 years ago, their flowers were very translucent and pretty. So last year I decided to let the Mint flower, too.

Oh my goodness, it was the worst thing I have ever done in the garden. Big black house-flies absolutely LOVED the mint flowers and the mint was totally covered in the flies. One or two ended up in the bungalow. I had gone away to London for 2 days. When I got back, 20 flies in the kitchen and signs of their shells. It took me about four days to get rid of them. 20 the next day, then down to about 12.... and finally the last one or two. 

I shall never let the mint flower again! I also have a phobia now about opening the windows. 

Oh the joys of Summer and its wildlife!

Many thanks again, ArbitraryRandom, for your suggestions. 

ArbitraryRandom

Annemos said:

 Big black house-flies absolutely LOVED the mint flowers and the mint was totally covered in the flies. One or two ended up in the bungalow. I had gone away to London for 2 days. When I got back, 20 flies in the kitchen and signs of their shells. It took me about four days to get rid of them. 20 the next day, then down to about 12.... and finally the last one or two. 

Wow, I've never heard of that before! 

I know mint can attract hoverflies and wasps (both of which are beneficial predatory insects). I wonder if it's a particular 'flavour' of mint (peppermint vs spearmint). 

I've got a tub that I've just started growing mint in, but thankfully a fair way away from the house - I'll have to see if I spot the same when it flowers next year. 

Annemos

It looks exactly like this. It is quite old. (Called Common Garden Mint on the website selling it.)   And the flies were just like this. 

Annemos

ArbitraryRandom

Big Thank you and an update on the Red Jade Malus. 

I did as you suggested and put a ring of the grease. (I had expected it to be white, so I was very surprised how black it is. I have to be careful not to accidentally brush up against it. )

Well, I did not see any ants on the tree at all, before and during the Peony season. And even though the peonies have now gone over, I only saw 2 ants last week which I got rid of. 

So I think your remedy has made a massive difference. The tree just looks much more healthy compared to last year. 

Many thanks for your suggestion, as I had never come across the grease. 

Here is a photo. I have 3 different varieties of peonies, so they flower over a staggered extended period.