"John Nolan" wrote in message
.uk...
Hello All,

We are very much amateur fruit tree growers, and are very worried.

For years, about 40 - 50, I have taken inherited fruit trees for granted.

Never done much with them, assumed they would fruit and most of them did.

Some were ancient, a Golden Russet, for example.

Now we live in a fruit growing area between Forest of Dean and Severn.

We have a field of red clay that used to be an orchard. We planted new
fruit
trees, about 4 - 5 years ago.

This year many trees and gooseberries have been devastated by what are
variously sawfly (gooseberries), Winter moth and maybe another.

Had put grease bands on, but may have been too late. Sprayed with Bio
"Naturen" twice last week.
Many caterpillars may have been slowed down, but not killed.

Now have got pheromones out to sort out the males moths.

We have a dry E. wind (like a Haaa ?) that may not be helping.

Out of about 15 fruit trees, 2 may have died.

What to do ? Heeeeelp !!!!!! ;-((

John N.

Gooseberries will always recover from sawfly attack although it may reduce
fruit yield, I had not up until your post heard of top fruit being
devastated in that way, the leaves I presume are obviously being eaten? not
going black and shrivelling?

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and
Lapageria rosea