Pest & Disease Control for Fig Trees

Every fruit tree has the future potential for disease and insect damage. Factors such as location and weather will play a part in which issues your tree encounters. If available, disease-resistant trees are the best option for easy care; and for all trees, proper maintenance (such as watering, fertilizing, pruning, spraying, weeding, and fall cleanup) can help keep most insects and diseases at bay.

NOTE: This is part 5 in a series of 10 articles. For a complete background on how to grow fig trees, we recommend starting from the beginning.

Fig Rust

Disease appears on leaves as a small yellowish-orange spots, then enlarges and spreads as the growing season progresses, eventually causing the leaves to drop.

Control

  • Consult County Extension Agent

Fig Mosaic

Disease appears as large yellow spots on the leaves, then a rust colored ring surrounds the spot. Can cause fruit to drop and leaves to be smaller.

Control

  • Remove and destroy all infested trees.
  • Plant disease free trees.

Other Control Options

  • Consult County Extension Agent

Root Knot Nematodes

Small worms that feed on roots and burrow into the root system and eat the roots causing reddish-brown lesions, leaves will turn brown and wilt. Roots swell reducing their ability to absorb water and nutrients.

Control

  • Plant disease free trees.
  • Remove and destroy all infested trees.

Other Control Options

  • Consult County Extension Agent

Anthracnose

First appears as small black, yellow or brown spots on leaves, then spots enlarge and merge to affect entire area.

Control

  • Consult County Extension Agent

Scale

Usually on bark of young twigs and branches, encrusted with small (1/16”) hard, circular, scaly raised bumps with yellow centers, may also be on fruit. Sap feeding weakens the tree.

Natural Control

  • Safer® Brand Insect Killing Soap

Mealybug

Adults are ¼“ long, flat, oval shaped with a white waxy covering. Yellow to orange eggs are laid within an egg sac. Crawlers are yellow to brown in color. Over winters as an egg or very immature young in or near a white, cottony egg sac, under loose bark or in branch crotches, mostly found on north side. Damage is by contamination of fruit clusters with egg sacs, larvae, adults and honeydew, which promotes growth of black sooty mold.

Natural Control

  • Safer® Brand Insect Killing Soap

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