Flies attacking fruit tree?

Question

we have a large plum tree in our garden, it is completly covered with flyig insects of all kinds, flies and wasps ect, it produces very little fruit, what can we do?

Answer 1

This may sound weird...but it really works!  Fill a 1 gallon ziploc bag 1/2 full of tap water.  Tie a knot in it and hang it on the tree.  Flies really hate this for some reason...let me know if this helps!

Answer 2

Whether your tree produces very little plums or not - other creatures other than you want to eat them also. Flies and wasps are attracted to the fruit for the exact same reasons - to eat their fill. There is absolutely nothing yuo can do to prevent this, other than to harvest waht crop you have asap.  be careful when you do as wasps have the nack of getting into the fruit - ususally out of sight - grasping a fruit to pick them off can be a bit painful belive me.

Answer 3

The flies and wasps are attracted by the sugar in the fruit. It's possible your tree is also giving off gum through the bark.

However its unlikely that these are reducing the amount of crop you are getting, though they'll be after their share of what there is.

Are you getting a lot of blossom in the spring?

If the tree is old and has lots of crossing branches it may need pruning to let in the light and air to ripen the fruit buds for next year's crop. Then you'll get more blossom in March/April as well.

If it does have a lot of flowers in the spring then it's probably late frosts that are killing the blossom and reducing the crop.

Answer 4

Ask the manager of your local gardening store! They will be happy to help you!