friend of stouby Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 HelloWe returned to our fermette last week to find 4 of our 5 ancient cherry trees attacked by 2 types of caterpillars. The effect is severley nibbled leaves and all the fruit clusters withered and dried up.Each of the trees had masses of blossom when we were there in April.The previous owner confirmed that the caterpillars had caused the damage and just shrugged and said some years they arrive and some they don't.Does anyone know of anything preventative that we may do before next spring that may prevent the caterpillar attacks?An apple tree next to one of the larger cherry trees also suffered from the same problem but less severe.Thanks for any ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 No there is nothing you can do if you are not there, I was lucky and saw the little beggars before they did too much damage and picked them off and sprayed the rest with soapy water, its like cabbge white's, some years you get them, others you don't. There is no preventative spray, but you can put on a grease band to keep more harmful pests away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 It won't have been the caterpillars that affected the fruit, that will just have been the weather, the caterpillars only eat the leaves and it is not enough to cause any harm to the tree.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabman Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 While on the subject of cherry trees we have a couple of large trees.Arrived at our place on Monday evening, trees were laden with lovely ripe fruit.Picked a few when passing by, intending to get the ladder out later to collect more.Now Friday and both trees are bare. Totally stripped by birds, although never saw or heard a thing!What's the answer? Speed of picking, nets or is there another protection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Got to be on your toes, look every day, dawn and dusk, as soon as you see the birds move in get picking.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friend of stouby Posted June 13, 2006 Author Share Posted June 13, 2006 Hello againThanks everyone for the advice amd opinions, apart from the fact that 3 of the trees are 10m+ tall and removing caterpillers is not practical in this case, I have learnd some useful things. It appears that not to worry too much about caterpillars, use grease bands for other problems that may arrive, hope for a milder spring next year, and be around the moment the cherries are ripe. Many thanks.....I have now posted a different question, hope this is ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friend of stouby Posted June 13, 2006 Author Share Posted June 13, 2006 Hello againThanks everyone for the advice and opinions, apart from the fact that 3 of the trees are 10m+ tall and removing caterpillers is not practical in this case, I have learnd some useful things. It appears that not to worry too much about caterpillars, use grease bands for other problems that may arrive, hope for a milder spring next year, and be around the moment the cherries are ripe. Many thanks.....I have now posted a different question, hope this is ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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