Sasha CampbellAphids are tiny insects that drink plant juices. A few aphids usually will not harm a mature apple tree. But large groups can curl leaves, slow new shoots, and sometimes damage fruit.
Check the tree when new leaves begin to grow. If you find aphids, look at how many there are and whether the tree is being harmed.
You can often start by removing small groups by hand or washing them off with water.
Signs of Aphids on Apple Trees
Look closely at new leaves, shoots, and buds. Green apple aphids often gather on soft new growth.
Rosy apple aphids can curl leaves and make young apples grow out of shape. Woolly apple aphids look as though they are covered in white fluff [1, 2, 3].
You may also see a sticky liquid called honeydew. Ants may visit the sticky areas, and black sooty mold can grow on them. Check for aphids before choosing a treatment [4].
How to Get Rid of Apple Aphids Naturally
You do not need to use every method below. A large, healthy tree can often live with a few aphids.
Pay closer attention to young trees and to rosy apple aphids near developing fruit [2, 5].
1. Remove Small Groups by Hand
For a few aphids on a branch you can reach, put on garden gloves and gently rub them off. Check the undersides of leaves, too.
This works best when the group is small. Be careful around tender shoots and young apples.
2. Wash Aphids Off with Water
Aim a firm stream of water at infested leaves and shoots. The water knocks aphids off the tree. Use enough force to remove them without harming leaves or fruit.
This method is easiest on a small tree with branches you can reach. Check again later to see whether aphids remain.
3. Prune a Badly Infested Shoot
If aphids are gathered on just one or two shoots, you may be able to prune those shoots off. Bag them and remove them from the garden.
Do not cut off large amounts of healthy growth to deal with a few aphids. Pruning will help most when the infestation is limited to a small part of the tree [4].
4. Protect Insects That Eat Aphids
Lady beetles, lacewing larvae, hoverfly larvae, and tiny wasps that lay eggs in aphids can help keep their numbers down. Look for these helpful insects before you use a spray.
Sprays can harm helpful insects they hit. Natural enemies also need time to work, so they may not stop early rosy apple aphid damage to young fruit.
5. Grow Flowers for Helpful Insects
Flowers can provide food and shelter for some of the insects that attack aphids. If you have room, grow a mix of flowers that bloom at different times [6].
Leave enough space around your apple tree to check its branches. Flowers may help over time, but they will not quickly clear a large aphid infestation.
6. Avoid Too Much Nitrogen Fertilizer
Do not add fertilizer just because you see aphids. Too much nitrogen can lead to extra soft new growth and help aphid numbers rise.
If your tree needs fertilizer, use only the amount it needs.
7. Use Insecticidal Soap When Needed
If aphids keep spreading, consider an insecticidal soap labeled for use on apple trees. It must touch the aphids to work, so check the label for how to cover infested shoots and the undersides of leaves.
Use a product made for plants instead of a homemade dish-soap mix. Follow its directions for timing and repeat treatments, and avoid spraying helpful insects [1, 4, 7].
8. Consider Horticultural Oil
Horticultural oil can help control some apple aphids when used at the right time. An early treatment, before leaves fully open, can reduce aphids that hatch from eggs left on the tree.
Once rosy apple aphids are hidden inside curled leaves, sprays have a harder time reaching them.
Some oils can also be used during the growing season to coat aphids directly. Choose a product labeled for apple trees and follow its directions.
The right timing and mixing rate depend on the product and the tree’s growth stage.
9. Use a Labeled Neem Product if Needed
Some neem products can help control aphids, but they don’t all work the same way. Choose a product whose label lists apple trees and aphids.
Follow the label for mixing, spraying, and repeat use. Do not add dish soap or guess at a mixing rate.
Check the directions before spraying near blossoms or helpful insects.
10. Use Diatomaceous Earth with Care
Diatomaceous earth is a dry powder that can harm insects when they touch it.
If you choose to try it, use a pesticide product whose label allows use on apple trees. Follow the label, and avoid breathing in the dust [8].
Diatomaceous earth is not a proven first choice for apple aphids. It may miss aphids beneath leaves or inside curled leaves. It also loses its effect when wet and can harm helpful insects it touches.
Keep the dust away from open flowers. Removing reachable aphids by hand or with water may work better.
Takeaway
Check new growth often so you can find aphids before they spread or leaves curl around them.
For a small group, try hand removal or water first. Helpful insects may also reduce their numbers.
If aphids keep spreading or a young tree is being damaged, choose a product labeled for apple trees and follow its directions. You can usually aim to control aphids without removing every last one.
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