APPLE SCAB DISEASE

Apple Scab is a foliar and fruit disease of fruiting apple trees, ornamental crabapples, hawthorns and mountain ash. When olive to blackish color spots appear on the leaves and fruit in spring it's a symptom that the tree is probably afflicted with Apple Scab. The disease can be especially bad if the weather is excessively wet in early spring.

If a tree has been afflicted with the disease for more than one year, it's a good idea to treat it using two different fungicide products; this helps to prevent a chemical resistance buildup by the plants. Recommended fungicides include Captan, Daconil, and Maneb. The first application should be made at swelling bud stage. Repeat the application 3 or 4 more times at 7 to 10 day intervals. Follow all manufacturers' recommendations as they appear on the product labels.

Fruit crop trees (apples, cherries, apricots, pears and plums) have special cultural requirements to produce good harvests year after year. Stop by the garden center and pick up our special publication entitled "Fruit Tree Spray Schedule".