Hi,

I have a young apple tree (Bountiful), the growing tips of
which were attacked by aphids earlier making it a sorry sight.
This was my fault as I left it much too late in the season to
spray. All is not lost however as there has been a vigourous new
leaf growth.

Now my questions -

So that I do not get caught out again, can anyone recommend an
easily-obtainable and efficacious, preventative spray that I can
buy-in. Not something that kills the pests after they have
arrived and settled-in but makes the premises inhospitable. And,
when should I start spraying next year?

What exactly are the black particles left on the leaves that
are quite easily wiped/washed off? I assume they are some type of
pest but would really like to know what kind.

Some of the leaves have developed a brown colour almost as if
they have been lightly buffed with brown shoe polish. Is this a
feature of this variety (Bountiful) or yet another thing to worry
about? It is not a case of the leaves dying off, just a colour
change. I cannot find much in the books on this and what there is
illustrates something of a more purple/reddish colour.

As background, in the same garden I have another apple tree of
the same age but of a different variety (Falstaff) that appears
to be completely immune to any of this together with a couple of
heavily laden pear trees that need almost no attention.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

- Joe

Sheffield
South Yorkshire