small tree problem

[claybury]

I HAVE A SMALL TREE , NOT SURE WHAT IT IS CALLED, BUT IT IS LIKE A WILLOW TREE WITH THE OVERHANGING BRANCHES, IT HAS A BLACK STICKEY RESIDUE ON IT ,MAINLY ON THE LEAVES BUT ON THE TOP ALSO, GET A LOT OF ANTS AND CATERPILLARS ON IT, IS THIS A DISEASE OR CAN IT BE CURED AS I WAS THINKING OF HAVING IT REMOVED, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT IF IT CAN BE CURED. THE TREE IS ABOUT 6FT HIGH,MANY THANKS FOR ANY HELP.

[NazNomad]

Chewing insects (caterpillars and aphids) tend to cause unsightly damage to leaves and foliage, causing premature leaf drop and sticky residue on willow trees.

I'm guessing the caterpillars are your problem.

Pick them off by hand and dispose of them, or spray the tree with pyrethrum or bifenthrin.

[claybury]

many thanks NAZNOMAD,

[carlton23]

It`s `Sooty Mould` and it`s used as food by the ants and caused, as Naz says, by Greenfly and Black-fly droppings. I find spraying with a diluted wash of water and a few drops of washing up liquid will wash off the protective coating of these insects and they will fall off the plant and die.

[claybury]

many thanks carlton 23 for the good info that I will try out.thanks again,