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Flamingo Salix Willow

Ken carterKen carter Posts: 19
in The potting shed
Hello, I have a 6 year old of the above, I am getting bees every day in large numbers in the Willow,just below the willow I have some Happy Sun Flower or Helenium Plants,so many Bees are Landing on the leaves every day, there could be something on the leaves which seems to attract them,a sticky feel, would like to know why,please. Many Thanks.

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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,145
    Check and see if you have aphids on the willow.  There's one specific to salix called willow bark aphid.    If they're there, they'll be secreting honeydew which will drop onto the flowers below and make them sticky and that may lead to an ant invasion and/or sooty mould.

    If so, you can blast the aphids off the willow with a spray from your hosepipe and also rinse off the honeydew.   Don't reach for pesticides as the good guys will be along shortly to eat them - ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings, sparrows and tits.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Ken carterKen carter Posts: 19
    Well many thanks for your reply,Yes plenty of Black Aphids on some stems,ants crawling up and down,so interesting although I cannot remember seeing this before over the years,I notice Aquilegia do have plenty of green fly which I spray with soapy water.
    Perhaps I should leave spraying the Willow as so many Bees,Wasps and Flies are having a good time  ? Thanks Ken.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,145
    Yes, the soapy water will affect the predators too so best wait till they arrive in numbers and hoover up your aphids or just use a blast of plain water from your hosepipe.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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