Author Topic: silver leaf or false silver leaf (Read 4436 times)

Dans · « **on:** May 15, 2016, 01:57:19 pm »

Hi guys,

Just been out in the garden and noticed some very silvery leaves on one of my cooking apple trees. There are 5-6 clumps of them. We didn't notice any disease or dead spots last year (moved in Aug) and we haven't done any pruning.

Is it likely to be silver leaf or could it be false silver leaf caused by the very hot dry weather we have had? From what I've read you can only tell if you cut the wood, but I'd rather not do that. I've attached a picture anyway.

Dans

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2016, 06:36:53 pm »

Looks like aphids to me. Have a look through a magnifying glass.

Dans · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2016, 06:53:14 pm »

Thanks FW.

I couldn't see anything moving and even now there are no green aphids in sight on the leaves. More leaves have become affected but on different branches (so not spreading by proximity/contact).

I don't really want to prune it now so will keep my fingers crossed, mark and affected branch and cut it in the winter to see if it is actually silver leaf.

Dans

PK · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2016, 07:32:35 pm »

Difficult to be sure from the photo. The leaf on the right does look like aphid infestation but if you can rule out insect damage then I think it could be powdery mildew. Whether it is this or silver leaf it would be best to cut out affected foliage as they are both spread by spores so leaving it there could result in it spreading or returning at a later date.

Dans · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2016, 07:46:12 pm »

D'oh

Amy precautions to take when cutting it away? Just a clean pair of secateurs?

Dans

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2016, 12:44:11 am »

Have you checked the stalks of the leaves? I checked my plum tree for aphids last year when the leaves were curling and they were clear. They I realised that the stalks where covered in aphids.