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The cause of the splits is invariably irregular watering. When the tree suddenly gets a hefty drink following a period of drought, the apples quickly expand, which often leads to the skin cracking. The fruit usually produces a corky, scab

When apple trees are in flower, the sawfly, Hoplocampa testudinea, lays its eggs in the developing fruit. In June, the larvae tunnel their way under the skin of the fruit and into the core, causing the apples to fall. When they're ready, they tunnel

Apple sooty blotch is caused by an overwintering fungus, which is typically found on trees or branches growing in shade and damp. It creates a splatter of dark, sooty spots all over the skin of the fruit, although the flesh isn't affected at all

Wasps love feeding on soft, juicy fruit. They can break through the skins of grapes, peaches and plums, and quickly nibble out sizeable cavities, but fruit with tougher skins such as apples and pears must first be broken open by pecking birds before

or scabs on the leaves of flowering shoots or on fruit. Splits may develop on young shoots. Foliage may fall prematurely from trees.Rake up fallen leaves at the end of the growing season and dispose of them - don't add them to your compost heap. Liaise

the problem long-term but deals with the aphids in the short-term.Spray the tree with thiacloprid the moment you spot any aphids. Small numbers are far more easily tackled than large, rapidly multiplying infestations.apples, crab apples, cotoneaster, hawthorn

can cause fruit to split, will help reduce the likelihood of an attack. Spray the tree with myclobutanil during the summer.apples, pears, plumssummer, winterCommon problems affecting fruit treesPear leal blister mitePear wasp damageApple and pear scabApple

featuring myclobutanil during spring and summer will help control the spread of the disease. Bordeaux mixture can also be applied after fruit harvest and during leaf fall.apples, pears, rowan, beech, ash, other broad-leaved treesspring, summer, autumn

by the maggot-like caterpillar will be seen, lined with its droppings or frass.Remove infected fruit as soon as any damage is evident to limit overwintering caterpillars. Control is available in the form of pheromone traps that catch male moths in April and May.apples