Bugs on Red Robin

moonpenny

Bought a small Red Robin shrub last year that is only just growing a bit but have just noticed there are bugs on new leaves.

I noticed the new leaves were really curling instead of opening up and (when I put my specs on) could see tiny black affid like bugs on the clumps of new leaves. Also ants.  Am I right in thinking that the ants actually "farm" the affids?

Anyway, I have sprayed it all with washing up liquid in water as I read somewhere that they will fall off. Don't know how true this is.
Can anyone suggest what I should use to rid my plant of these and get it back to health?

Farway

You are correct, they will be aphids and ants do "farm" them for the sweet honeydew they produce

Washing up liquid works up to a point, it blocks the aphids pores & they die, but it does need to actually cover /drench them, a slight whiff will not do, and it ideally should be a soap based one, not detergent chemical one

If you want foolproof then I suggest a systemic insecticide is required, you may not want to use this so your choice

moonpenny

Yes I will look for an insecticide. Can you recommend  one or do I just need a general one?

SandyShores

I'm not keen on using insecticides but when I bought a rose a couple of years ago the garden centre advised me to buy some Rose Clear to use for blackspot which is a fungus.  I realised this year that it also works on aphids as well.

We'd tried washing up liquid last year on a young Lupin plant but it didn't really work and the plant was really sickly.  This year we spayed the aphids with Rose Clear as soon as we saw the infestation (May I think) and its worked a treat - we didn't have to respray.

I don't like using chemicals, but I would use it on a new plant to let it establish itself.  I read online that you should only use insecticides late in the evening or very early in the morning - when the bees aren't around.  So a couple of weeks ago I popped out very late in the evening and sprayed a new dogwood tree we had bought that was starting to look a bit sad (wilted holey leaves) - they are apparently susceptible to diseases - so I'm hoping that will sort it out.

We have lots of bees in the garden this year, and we have a wild area at the bottom of the garden with lots of flowers and grasses, we even had crickets in there - so hopefully that makes up for spraying some of their insect friends.

twopenny

It's going to be more about protecting ladybirds than bees at the moment but most birds are away and not breeding at the moment so if ever this is the best time.
As said cool evening when the friendly bugs aren't around.
You really want to get inside the curled leaves and the underside. When it's dry weather.

Feeding the birds in summer means they aren't eating the insects so we're now plagued with them.
Wasps, lacewings (which you hardly see now) eat them too.

[Deleted User]

Red Robin is the common name for a Photinia, there are several different types within that genus.

When a plant is under some stress it can attract aphids etc, keep that newly planted shrub well watered and in a fairly sheltered position - dehydration is the most common cause of aphid attacks as is lack of free air movement around it.
Assess the above situation and go from there.

If it's only just started to show growth and it's been a year in the ground - have you pruned it yet ?
If not, it'll appreciate pruning to encourage root growth - if you don't it can stay stunted for another year or more - which could be another cause for the plant being under stress.

Regarding insecticide and washing up liquid - you do know to do this at the end of the day and not if it's in direct light, at that time aswell as likely to receive it first thing in the morning - yes ?
If you don't adhere to that the leaves will 'burn' and it'll die.