Join me on a gardening adventure, from planting seeds to harvesting. I'll share tips, triumphs, and lessons learned in nurturing a fruitful garden and orchard.

Fruit Tree Mini Series #5 0f 6

Pest & Disease Management

Sun Scald

Pests and What to keep an eye out for:

-Inspect your leaves and bark periodically as temperatures start to warm up.

-Rain and Temperature can cause natural problems are well.

Look often!

-Look for signs of chewing, pests themselves crawling around, egg clusters, discoloration, sticky substances on leaves or fruit, webs on branches, rotting or falling fruit or leaves.

FireBlight

*Some pests you may find are aphids, spider mites, ants, caterpillars, beetles, or scales.

EXAMPLES OF COMMON PESTS AND DISEASES

Aphid

Peach Borer

Mechanical Damage

Peach Curl

Coddling Moth

Anthracnose

How to treat your fruit trees for a pest infestation:

-Remove the infested area promptly by pruning and sanitizing your tool between each cut. DO NOT COMPOST INFECTED TREE PARTS.

-Keep surrounding tree area clean by removing any debris.

-You can introduce beneficial insects that prey on pests like ladybugs, lacewings or parasitic wasps.

-Plant beneficial plants around your tree like yarrow, dill, marigolds.

-Use natural sprays like neem oil, soap and water spray or, horticulture oil.

-Sticky traps, diatomaceous earth or hand picking are other natural ideas.

-Sulfur and Copper can be sprayed if other options are not working.

-You can always consult your local nursery if you can’t find natural ways that help.

Beetle Damage

Don’t kill off your beneficial insects!

Powdery Mildew

Apple Scab