How to treat an apple tree in summer and spring against pests and diseases, folk recipes and chemicals

To preserve the harvest and not lose seedlings, you should treat apple trees from diseases and pests in a timely manner. In each season, spraying is carried out with various preparations. Not only purchased products are popular, but also formulations prepared according to folk recipes. For processing to be beneficial, it is important to follow some rules.

What diseases and pests are activated

Diseases that affect the apple tree can be of infectious or non-infectious origin. Non-communicable diseases do not infect other crops. The reason for their occurrence is a lack of fertilizers in the soil, unfavorable weather conditions, and the close passage of groundwater.

Infectious diseases are quickly transmitted to other cultures. Viruses, bacteria and fungi can cause damage to the apple tree. But most often, infection occurs with fungal infections (powdery mildew, brown spot, black cancer, scab, rust, cytosporosis).

Among the pests that attack the apple tree, aphids, mites, psyllids, moths, leaf rollers, and codling moths are often found. It is recommended to get rid of parasites immediately to preserve the quality of the crop.

in spring

During the preparation of the apple tree for active growing season and flowering, it is necessary to provide proper care and protection. In early spring, pests that overwintered on the tree and spores of fungal diseases awaken.

Spring treatment for preventive and therapeutic purposes is carried out for the following diseases:

• powdery mildew is characterized by a white coating;
• scab is characterized by the appearance of brown spots;
• Bacterial cancer should be suspected when black spots are found on the leaves and cracks on the trunk.

Preventative spraying in the spring prevents the active activity of such pests on the apple tree as aphids, copperheads, psyllids, flower beetles, codling moths, codling moths, and leaf rollers.

In summer

In summer, crop processing should be done with caution. It is better not to use chemicals.The fruits accumulate pesticides and become unfit for consumption.

During the summer, there is a high risk of contracting the following diseases:

• scab;
• fruit rot develops in July;
• powdery mildew;
• brown leaf spot.

Pests such as codling moth caterpillars, mites, green aphids, apple moths, fruit sawflies and hawthorn can reduce yields and damage apples.

in autumn

Apple fruiting ends in autumn. Gardeners are beginning to prepare their crops for cold winter days. Treatment against pests and diseases can prevent their further spread.

Pests such as apple stem, aphids, mites, leaf roller eggs, and flower beetles hide in the cracks of branches and bark, near the buds and under fallen leaves.

The causative agent of scab, cytosporosis, mycelium of fruit rot and black cancer remains on fallen leaves and damaged fruits; powdery mildew remains on the buds.

Autumn treatment with suitable preparations can prevent the spread of pests and diseases. To destroy parasite eggs and fungal spores, a high dosage of components is used.

Signs of disease and parasites

It is not difficult to notice the onset of a disease or pest attack. The seedlings develop and grow slowly, the branches dry out, the leaves turn yellow, become spotted and fall off, the bark cracks and easily comes off the trunk.

On the foliage

If an infection occurs or pests attack, the leaves change their appearance:

• color change;
• you can notice that spots of various shapes and colors have appeared;
• the appearance of growths;
• curling edges;
• drying and wilting of foliage.

As a result, yellow, brown and even black leaves with dried edges begin to fall off.

On the bark

The tree trunk changes its appearance due to diseases such as European and black cancer, cytosporosis:

• spots appear;
• dark colored ulcers;
• a darkish coating forms;
• the bark dies and separates;
• the bark cracks and dries out.

To cope with diseases, in addition to processing, damaged branches and areas of bark should be removed in a timely manner. The places of cuts and removal must be treated with special disinfectants.

On the fruits

The fact that the apple tree is sick or damaged by pests is judged by the condition of the fruit:

• the apples are formed small;
• spots appear on them;
• fall from the tree before ripening;
• apples shrivel and rot.

In addition to the fact that yields are reduced, the fruits are poorly stored and quickly begin to rot. Fruits that have fallen from the tree are removed away from the site to prevent the spread of pests or infection.

Tree treatment products

All protective agents for processing fruit crops are divided into three groups:

1. The active components of biological preparations are living microorganisms. Their activity appears gradually over two weeks. It is better to spray apple trees with them in the summer to protect the fruits from chemicals.
2. Fast and reliable action of chemicals. They must be alternated with other means, as they are addictive. When diluting the solution, the proportions are strictly observed.
3. The apple tree is treated with self-prepared compounds according to well-known folk recipes. The remedies are the safest, but are not always effective.

When making a choice, take into account the degree of spread of infection or pests, as well as the stage of vegetative development of the apple tree.

Biological

All biological preparations begin to act only after the air and soil have warmed up sufficiently.Therefore, it is better to choose chemicals as the first spring treatment.

Biological agents used for spraying apple trees include the following list:

• You can spray trees with Actofit. The drug suppresses the nervous system of many parasites.
• "Bitoxibacillin" fights gnawing insects. The active substance of the drug, penetrating inside the insect, leads to paralysis of the digestive system, as a result of which the parasites die.
• The drug Trichodermin helps to get rid of scab, powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. The drug increases the immunity of the fruit crop, improves soil composition and increases productivity.
• The Pentafag S product helps reduce the risk of contracting fungal infections.
• The drug “Planriz” protects the tree from many diseases. Allowed to be used at any phase of apple tree development.
• Lepidocid effectively fights pests that chew leaves. The active substance, penetrating inside the pest, paralyzes the digestive tract.

Most biological preparations are harmless to humans and animals, and their use is permitted at any stage of the growing season.

Often, instead of these drugs, gardeners treat the tree with urea. This component is a mineral nitrogen fertilizer. Trees are treated with urea at various times of the year, except winter. In spring and autumn, the product protects against pests and diseases, and in the summer it serves as a top dressing.

Urea actively fights scab, aphids, and leaf rollers. To increase its effectiveness, it is useful to add copper sulfate to the prepared solution. 45 g of copper sulfate and 750 g of urea are dissolved in a bucket of water.

Chemical

Chemicals are most often used for the primary treatment of trees in the spring and autumn, after harvesting. When preparing the solution, be sure to follow the recommended dosages:

• Spraying with copper sulfate is effective. 100 g of dry matter is dissolved in a bucket of water. The powder is poured into the water gradually. If there is a need to disinfect the tree trunk area, you will need to take 5 g of the substance.
• The drug "Skor" is a fungicide. After spraying, it begins to act two hours later. 4 ml of the drug is dissolved in a bucket of water. Spraying is effective only at air temperatures above +15 degrees.
• "Karbofos" is effective against many pests. Add 90 g of the drug to a bucket of water.
• Contact fungicide "Hom" is used against many scourges. 40 g of the substance are dissolved in 10 liters of water.
• The drug "Iskra" will help get rid of aphids and other pests. Dissolve 1 tablet in a bucket of water.
• The insecticidal agent "Bi-58" is effective against many pests. Add 10 ml of the drug to a bucket of water. It should not be used during the flowering period, as the solution has a detrimental effect on bees.

When processing garden trees, personal protective measures must be observed.

Folk remedies

It is safe to spray apple trees with folk formulations:

• Prepare shag tincture. Add 400 g of shag to 10 liters of water. The finished concentrate is diluted again with water and liquid soap is added.
• Garlic tincture helps to cope with pests. Chopped garlic cloves in the amount of 450 g are poured with water. After two hours, filter. The concentrate is diluted with water and spraying begins.
• To prepare an infusion from wood ash, you will need to dissolve 100 g of the substance in 10 liters of water and add 25 g of urea.
• An infusion of wormwood helps control pests. You need to take 340 g of dried, crushed herb and add 10 liters of water. A day later, the solution is put on fire and boiled for another 30 minutes. Liquid soap is added to the strained broth.

There are many other proven recipes that will help you safely deal with the problem in your garden.

How to properly process an apple tree

Protection of apple trees should be carried out year-round, but only if all recommendations are followed will it be possible to preserve seedlings and the size of the crop. During each growing season of a fruit crop, a number of rules must be observed.

It is important to choose the right sprayer. The solution should be evenly distributed over the entire surface of the trunk and branches. Spraying is carried out in the evening, in dry, windless weather. Even if there are several types of pests or diseases on the tree, you only need to choose one remedy.

During flowering

During the flowering period, treatment is carried out for the purpose of pest control, as well as for disease prevention. Spraying is carried out only if the treatment was not carried out before bud break.

The means chosen are: Bordeaux mixture, Captana suspension, copper sulfate, urea, Chlorophos. The trunks and branches are processed.

During the fruiting period

The fruiting period is no exception for the appearance of diseases and especially pests. At this time, trees with fruits are processed with extreme caution.

Branches damaged by disease are removed from the trees, and healthy ones are treated with drugs such as “Skor” and “Fitosporin”. Young branches are removed with pruning shears, and old branches with a saw. Such safe products as “Bitoxibacillin” and “Lepidocide” will help get rid of pests.But even these drugs are undesirable to use later than a month before harvest.

After harvest

To reduce diseases and the proliferation of pests, preventive treatment is carried out in autumn. After harvesting, you can water with solutions based on copper and iron sulfate, urea, and lime. Ready-made preparations are also used: “30+”, “Entobacterin”.

What preparations and solutions are safe to treat fruits with?

Biological preparations are considered safe for plants, animals and humans. You can spray them even in summer. Common and effective remedies are: “Gaupsin”, “Good owner”, “Trifovit”, “Fitosporin”.

Processing times

Treatment of the trunk and branches of fruit trees should be carried out in accordance with the recommended timing:

• The purpose of the first treatment is to destroy pests and larvae that have overwintered in the soil and bark. Apple trees are sprayed until the buds swell.
• The next spraying is carried out at the moment of bud break.
• Preventive and therapeutic spraying is carried out at the time of flowering.
• To prevent fungal infections, treatment is carried out after fruit set.
• The last treatment is carried out after another two weeks.

In summer and autumn, spraying is carried out if necessary, when pests appear or become infected.

How to cover a fresh cut on a tree

Cutting branches larger than 10 mm in diameter must be treated with a thick layer of garden varnish or special acrylic-based garden paint. Other disinfectants are also used:

• solution of copper sulfate: 45 g dissolved in one liter of warm water;
• several grains of potassium permanganate are dissolved in warm water;
• iron sulfate: 30 g diluted in a liter of water;
• Treatment with Bordeaux mixture helps.

After trimming, the area is cleaned with a knife. It is better to use a brush to apply the solution. The procedure is carried out in dry, windless weather.