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. While I was there I thought I may as well do a couple of jobs, so I set about thinning out the fruit on the apple trees. This year my three apple trees have flowered and set fruit beautifully; the branches are laden with bunches of marble-sized fruits

Despite summer drought in my part of the East Midlands, my apple crop has been pretty good on most trees, but there’s just one problem. A much larger proportion of fruit than ever before has been pecked on the tree itself, resulting in small holes

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

myclobutanil as the active ingredient.apples, pearswinter, spring, summerMore common apple and pear trees problemsApple sawflyApple sooty blotchPear leaf blister mitePear wasp damage

Box - Buxus sempervirensCrab apples - Malus 'Golden Hornet'Stub wireSecateursPliersDecember1 hourSoak the Oasis in water and cut it to fit the pots. If they are going to sit on a precious surface, line them first with a sheet of plastic.Push the Oasis

.Home-grown applesAny of the following:NewspapersApple rackFiling trayPlastic bagsautumn10 minutes to an hourPlace a few apples in a clear plastic bag - such as a freezer bag - and store in the fridge for up to a week. Use pre-used bags where possible.To store apples

band to trees.Grease bandScissorsStringOctober - November10 minutesUnroll the grease band and measure how much you'll need around the base of your fruit tree.Cut off the length required, ensuring the ends overlap so there aren't any gaps

is the ideal time to plant bare-rooted trees and there are few simple ways to give them the best start. Tree, tree tieCane, stringSpade, forkWooden stakeHammer, sawCompost, granular fertiliser, well-rotted manureMulch or bark chippingsNovember - February1 hour

-magnesium carbonate to the soil in autumn or winter to remedy the deficiency for next year.potatoes, apples, cherries, grape vines, tomatoes, camellias, rhododendronssummer, autumn, winterMore common plant problemsCanna virusRaspberry nutrient deficiencyHollyhock rust

've listed some of my favourite fruits below.Plants grow up to 1.8m and bear sweet berries from July. Best suited to large, sheltered plots.Good soft fruit varietiesBlackcurrant 'Boskoop Giant'Grows well in shade and on heavy soil. It forms red berries