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Replies

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  dgeorgea April 17, 2009 at 9:39am

  Daft question, are you sure it is not woolly aphids? They have a waxy back which looks white, and makes it difficult for them to be treated with spray.
  
  If I remember right if you brush it with your finger it should crush the aphids and make it wet, which would be confirmation of aphids rather than mould. Woolly aphids can easily be mistaken for a fungus because of the waxy white back.
  
  Sorry cannot remember the treatment if it is, scrape them off?
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  Graeme @ BGS April 17, 2009 at 5:59pm

  Thanks for the replies. The "silver fungus" feels like moss and has now spread to another tree.
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  Graeme @ BGS April 17, 2009 at 7:05pm

  lichen sounds about right. Thanks Colin
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  Graeme @ BGS April 17, 2009 at 7:15pm

  colin said:

  i will swap your little apple trees for an acre of orchard covered in brambles

  
  Well if we are bragging - I have a two acre orchard due for it's once a year mow! Hate to think what I will be up against :-)
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  Hamish April 17, 2009 at 8:25pm

  Definately looks like Lichen to me, often happens when trees have been planted in soils which have traces of ancient semi natural woodland in them. They do not like polluted air and as such occur on younger trees in the west of the british isles. There used to be a lot of people who spent time clearing of favourite trees but the evidence now is that they do not cause harm, but again are not beneficial to the tree - certainly if you clear away they will keep coming back. If the tree is kept well mulched and properly trimmed the tree will carry on producing fruit anyway. Certainly mosses and lichens are of some benefit to a rich ecosystem and Oliver Rackham talks about them a lot as a good guide for research into veteran trees.
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  Graeme @ BGS April 17, 2009 at 8:40pm

  Very reassuring - Thanks Hamish.
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  steve loftus May 3, 2009 at 9:10am

  looks a deffo on the licho front to me, very common on lots of apple trees we had in our 300 acres at blackmoor, mainly on the older trees, if it is,dont worry to much. or take it up the rhs wisley for advice........