Query

Sandra Elsey

 

I have a plum tree in my new garden which is covered in plums but some of the leaves  are shrivelling, any ideas what's wrong with it?

Dovefromabove

Hi Sandra

That looks like aphid damage to me.  Not a lot you can do about it and a healthy tree will not be bothered by it.  

Encourage ladybirds and bluetits to your garden - the bluetit fledglings hoover up the aphids in our garden.  

Hoverflies also eat aphids, so planting lots of umbellifers that aphids love will encourage them into your garden too. 

Good luck 

Sandra Elsey

Thank you for the reply but what are umbellifers ?

Dovefromabove

Sorry, umbellifers are plant with flat heads of flowers like fennel, cow parsley, ammi majus, angelica etc 

Hoverflies love them. 

http://hortensisblog.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/umbellifers.html