My espalier apple trees have done well this year. I planted them last fall. I have noticed this past week that several leave have folded over and dried up. In looking closer, I found several cotten type patches attached in the folds that may have a worm. I also noticed several places with webbing that had many black dots (maybe eggs). What do I have and what do I do about it. I have picked the leaves and put them in the garbage.
Sounds like fruit tree leaf rollers. small caterpillars that can due a bit of damage but usually not too harmfull. look for recent caterpillar damage and if there is enough to warrant control consider Btk products as a remedy. if you allready have cocoons and they are empty, there isnt much point in spraying Btk or much else. watch next year and if you see the young ones in June, give them a spraying and they will probably be gone. the black stuff is most likely what is called "frass" aka bug poop.