Spraying Apple Trees

First and foremost, be sure to familiarize yourself with the existing or potential pest and diseases issues for apple trees in your area. Your local county Cooperative Extension is an excellent resource for this information. Documents for identification and control, assembled by your local state universities, may even already exist online. Your local independent garden centers and local growers are also invaluable sources of pest and disease control in your area.

In high-density areas, a proper and consistent spray schedule can be paramount to the survival of your apple tree. Many potential issues can be prevented with sprays before they become problematic. To get the most return on the investment of your time and energy, spraying apple trees should be done consistently and thoroughly following the guidelines below.

NOTE: This is part 9 in a series of 11 articles. For a complete background on how to grow apple trees, we recommend starting from the beginning.

Video preview for Spraying Fruit Trees: Dormant Oil Spraying Fruit Trees: Dormant Oil

General Maintenance

Before you begin, read and follow all instructions on the labels of the products you have in hand. Do not combine any chemicals unless the labels on each chemical spray involved specifically state that you can safely do so.

A well-rounded home spray program for apple trees includes dormant-season as well as growing-season sprays for pests and diseases. Research your location and learn about any pests or disease that are common in your area. If you know apple tree diseases are common in your area, consider planting easy-care, disease-resistant apple trees if possible.

Note: Contact your local county Cooperative Extension for alternative suggestions and advice on cultural and chemical control methods if certain sprays offered by Stark Bro’s are not recommended for use in your area.

When to Spray Apple Trees

  • Dormant Season (late winter/early spring, before bud break)
  • Growing Season – Bud Break (emergence of new growth)
  • Growing Season – After Blossom (after petals drop*)

*gives bees and other beneficials a chance to safely pollinate the blossoms

It bears repeating: Always follow instructions printed on container label for more detailed information, such as timing and application instructions specifically for apple trees.

Pest Control Sprays:

Monterey Horticultural Oil

  • Pests: Aphids, mites, scale, whiteflies, sawflies, loopers, leafhoppers, leafminers, leafrollers, psylla, mealybugs, thrips, worms, and more.
  • Diseases: Black spot, powdery mildew, rust, sooty mold
  • Timing: Growing Season – Pre-Bloom, Growing Season – After Blossom, Dormant Season
  • Type: Mainly preventative. Controls overwintering pests and their eggs.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, as needed. Do not apply when temperatures are below 32ºF (no heat restriction for use – unique for an oil spray). Do not apply during drought or to wilted or otherwise stressed plants. Test for plant sensitivity prior to broad use.

Hi-Yield® Vegetable & Ornamental Insect Control

  • For: Ants, cutworms, crickets, earwigs, grasshoppers, grubs, seed maggots, weevils, and wireworms.
  • Timing: Growing Season – After Blossom
  • Type: Active. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for to be effective.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 7 days as needed. Can be applied up to 7 days before harvest.

Safer® Brand Insect Killing Soap

  • For: Aphids, earwigs, grasshoppers, harlequin bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, plant bugs, psyllids, sawfly larvae, soft scales, spider mites, squash bugs, blossom thrips, and whiteflies.
  • Timing: Growing Season – After Blossom
  • Type: Mainly active. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective. This OMRI Listed® insect killer is compliant for use in organic gardening.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed. Apply every 5 to 7 days when insects are present. Can be used up to the day of harvest.

Natural Guard® Caterpillar Killer Spray w/BT

  • For: Pests treated include bagworms, tent caterpillars, gypsy moths, cabbage loopers, and tomato hornworms.
  • Timing: Growing Season – Bud Break or After Blossom
  • Type: Active. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply this product when worms or caterpillars are first noticed, then repeat at five (5) to seven (7) day intervals while they are active. May be applied up to and including the day of harvest.

GardenTech® Sevin® Bug Killer

  • For: Apple aphid, apple maggot, apple mealybug, apple pandemic, apple rust mite, apple sucker, avocado leafroller, bagworms, black cherry aphid, black scale, leafrollers, lecanium scales, lesser appleworm, lesser peachtree borer, meadow spittlebug, omnivorous leaftier, strawberry fruitworm, orange tortrix
  • Timing: Growing Season – After Blossom
  • Type: Active. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective.
  • Application: Follow the label. To avoid fruit drop, apply 30 days after full bloom. Apply as directed, every 7 days, up to 8 times per year (max) as needed. Can be applied up to 3 days before harvest.

Disease Control Sprays

Hi-Yield® Captan 50W Fungicide

  • For: Controls fungus diseases such as black rot, botrytis rot, brown rot, scab, and leaf spot on fruits and ornamental plants. Hi-Yield Captan is also excellent to control cedar apple rust on fruit trees.
  • Timing: Growing Season – Bud Break (pre-bloom, bloom, petal fall), Growing Season – After Blossom
  • Type: Mainly active, also preventative. Controls and prevents fungal diseases.
  • Application: For application rates consult the label on listed fruits and ornamentals. May be applied up to day of harvest.

Monterey Liquid Copper Fungicide

  • For: Powdery Mildew, Rusts, Black Spot, Leaf & Fruit Spot, Downy Mildew, Fruit Rot, Late Blight, and Leaf Curl.
  • Timing: Use while plants are dormant and throughout the growing season.
  • Type: Mainly active, also preventative. Controls and prevents fungal diseases. OMRI certified organic.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed. Can be used up to the day of harvest.

Ferti-Lome® Fire Blight Spray

  • For: Fire blight, bacterial wilt, stem rot, leaf spot, crown gall
  • Timing: Growing Season – Bud Break (may include bloom period), Growing Season – After Blossom
  • Type: Mainly preventative, also active. Controls and prevents bacterial diseases.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 3 to 4 days during bloom time and every 5 to 7 days as needed after blossom period. Do not apply when fruit is visible. For use as a foliar and/or blossom spray.

Serenade® Garden Disease Control

  • For: Anthracnose, bacterial leaf blight, bacterial speck, bacterial spot, black mold, black rot/black crown rot, black spot (of rose), botrytis, botrytis leaf blight, downy mildew, early blight, fire blight, gray mold, greasy spot, late blight, leaf spots, powdery mildew, rust, scab, target spot, white mold
  • Timing: Growing Season – Bud Break, Growing Season – After Blossom
  • Type: Mainly preventative. Controls and suppresses fungal and bacterial diseases.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 7 days as needed. Can be used any time of day (including in full sun and high temperatures) without stressing or burning foliage. Can be used up to, and including, the day of harvest.

Combination Sprays for Pests & Diseases

Ferti-lome® Triple Action

  • Pests: Whiteflies, aphids, spider mites, scale, mealybugs, beetles, Japanese beetles, loopers, leaf miners, leaf rollers, armyworms, webworms, weevils, tent caterpillars, fungus gnats, leafhoppers, cabbage worms, squash bugs, squash vine borer, crickets, ants, fleas and many other insects.
  • Diseases: Powdery Mildew, Black Spot, Brown Spot, Dollar Spot, Snow Mold, Downy Mildew, Anthracnose, Rust, Leaf Spot, Botrytis, Needle Rust, Scab and Flower, Twig and Tip Blight.
  • Timing: Growing Season – After Blossom
  • Type: Mainly active, also preventative. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective. Controls and prevents fungal diseases.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 7- to 14-days. Can be used up to day of harvest on fruits and vegetables.

Natural Guard® Neem

  • Pests: Aphids, spider mites, scale, whiteflies, beetles, leafrollers, and other insect pests.
  • Diseases: Powdery mildew, black spot, downy mildew, anthracnose, rust, leaf spot, botrytis, needle rust, scab and flower, twig and tip blight, and alternaria.
  • Timing: Dormant Season, Growing Season – Bud Break, Growing Season – After Blossom
  • Type: Mainly preventative, also active. Controls overwintering pests and their eggs, and pests on contact. Controls and prevents fungal diseases.
  • Application: Follow the label. Oil-based, so apply in early morning/late evening to minimize the potential for leaf burn. Apply as directed, every 7- to 14-days as needed. Can be used up to the day of harvest.

Monterey Fruit Tree Spray Plus

  • Pests: Aphids, mites, scale, whiteflies, beetles, leafrollers, loopers, mealybugs, leafhoppers, leafminers, thrips, borers, grasshoppers, crickets, ants, hornworm, earwig, chiggers, worms, and other insect pests.
  • Diseases: Powdery mildew, black spot, brown spot, dollar spot, snow mold, downy mildew, anthracnose, rust, leaf spot, botrytis, needle rust, blight (flower blight, twig blight, and tip blight), scab.
  • Timing: Growing Season – Pre-Bloom (for early disease prevention), Growing Season – After Blossom (for pest and disease control on contact).
  • Type: Mainly active, also preventative. Controls pests on contact. Pests must be present for spray to be effective. Controls and prevents fungal diseases.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, every 7 to 14 days, as needed. Do not use more than 1 time per day on the same plants. Do not use more than 10 times per season. Do not apply when temperatures are below 45ºF. Do not apply to wilted or otherwise stressed plants. Apply in early morning or late evening to minimize potential for leaf burn. Test for plant sensitivity prior to broad use.

Monterey Horticultural Oil

  • Pests: Aphids, mites, scale, whiteflies, sawflies, loopers, leafhoppers, leafminers, leafrollers, psylla, mealybugs, thrips, worms, and more.
  • Diseases: Black spot, powdery mildew, rust, sooty mold
  • Timing: Growing Season – Pre-Bloom, Growing Season – After Blossom, Dormant Season
  • Type: Mainly preventative. Controls overwintering pests and their eggs.
  • Application: Follow the label. Apply as directed, as needed. Do not apply when temperatures are below 32ºF (no heat restriction for use – unique for an oil spray). Do not apply during drought or to wilted or otherwise stressed plants. Test for plant sensitivity prior to broad use.

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Tools & Supplies for Apple Trees