How to treat an apple tree in summer and spring from pests and diseases, folk recipes and chemicals
In order to preserve the harvest and not lose seedlings, apple trees should be treated on time from diseases and pests. In each season, spraying is carried out with various preparations. Not only purchased products are popular, but also compositions 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 infectious and non-infectious in origin. Non-communicable diseases do not infect other crops. The reason for their occurrence is the lack of fertilizers in the soil, unfavorable weather conditions, and the close passage of groundwater.
Infectious diseases spread quickly to other crops. Viruses, bacteria and fungi can cause damage to the apple tree. But most often infection with fungal infections occurs (powdery mildew, brown spot, black cancer, scab, rust, cytosporosis).
Of the pests that infect the apple tree, aphids, mites, flies, moths, leafworms, moths are often found. It is recommended to get rid of parasites immediately in order to preserve the quality of the crop.
In the spring
During the period of preparation of the apple tree for active vegetation and flowering, it is necessary to provide proper care and protection. In early spring, pests that hibernated on a tree and spores of fungal diseases awaken.
Spring treatment for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes is carried out for the following diseases:
- powdery mildew is characterized by a white bloom;
- scab is distinguished by the appearance of brown spots;
- bacterial cancer should be suspected if black spots on the leaves and cracks on the trunk are found.
Preventive spraying in the spring prevents such pests as aphids, honeydew, leaf beetle, flower beetle, apple moth, moth, and leafworm from vigorous activity on the apple tree.
Summer
In summer, culture processing should be carried out with caution. It is better not to use chemicals. Fruits accumulate pesticides and become unusable.
In 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 moth caterpillars, mites, green aphids, apple moth, fruit sawfly, and hawthorn can reduce yields and damage apples.
In autumn
Apple tree fruiting ends in autumn. Gardeners are beginning to prepare the crop for the cold winter days. Treating pests and diseases can prevent their further spread.
In the cracks of branches and bark, near the buds and under fallen leaves, such pests as apple stalks, aphids, mites, eggs of a leafworm, flower beetles hide.
On fallen leaves and damaged fruits, the causative agent of scab, cytosporosis, the mycelium of fruit rot and black cancer is preserved, powdery mildew remains on the buds.
Autumn treatment with suitable preparations can prevent the spread of pests and diseases. To destroy the eggs of parasites and fungal spores, a high dosage of components is used.
Signs of disease and parasites
It is not difficult to notice the onset of the disease or the attack of pests. Saplings develop and grow slowly, the branches dry out, the leaves turn yellow, become stained and fall off, the bark cracks and easily leaves the trunk.
On foliage
If an infection occurs or pests attack, the leaves change their appearance:
- color change;
- you can see that spots of various shapes and colors have appeared;
- the appearance of growths;
- curling the 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 ulcers;
- a darkish bloom is formed;
- the bark dies off and separates;
- the bark cracks, dries up.
To cope with diseases, in addition to processing, damaged branches and sections of the bark should be removed in time. 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 fruits:
- the apples are small;
- spots appear on them;
- fall from the tree before ripening;
- apples shrivel and rot.
In addition to the fact that the yield decreases, the fruits are poorly stored and quickly begin to rot. The 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:
- Live microorganisms act as active components of biological preparations. Their activity manifests itself gradually over two weeks. It is better to spray apple trees with them in the summer to protect the fruits from chemistry.
- 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.
- The apple tree is treated with self-prepared compositions according to well-known folk recipes. The funds are the safest, but 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 agents take effect only after the air and soil have warmed up sufficiently. Therefore, it is better to choose chemical preparations as the first spring treatment.
The biological agents used for spraying apple trees include the following list:
- You can spray trees with Aktofit. The agent suppresses the nervous system of many parasites.
- "Bitoxibacillin" fights gnawing insects. The active substance of the drug, penetrating into the insect, leads to paralysis of the digestive system, as a result, the parasites die.
- Trichodermin helps to get rid of scab, powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. The drug increases the immunity of the fruit crop, improves the composition of the soil and increases the yield.
- Pentafag C helps to reduce the risk of contracting fungal infections.
- The drug "Planriz" protects the tree from many diseases. It is allowed to use at any phase of apple tree development.
- Lepidocide effectively fights against pests that gnaw leaves. The active substance, penetrating inside the pest, paralyzes the work of the digestive tract.
Most biological preparations are harmless to humans and animals; 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 different times of the year, except for winter. In the spring and autumn, the product protects against pests and diseases, and in the summer it serves as a top dressing.
Urea actively combats scab, aphids, leaf rollers. To increase its effectiveness, it is useful to add copper sulfate to the finished 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 primary processing of trees in spring and autumn, after harvest. During the preparation of the solution, the recommended dosages must be observed:
- Spraying with copper sulfate is effective. Dissolve 100 g of dry matter in a bucket of water. The powder is gradually poured into the water. If there is a need to disinfect the near-stem area, you will need to take 5 g of the substance.
- The drug "Skor" refers to fungicides. After spraying, it takes effect two hours later. Dissolve 4 ml of the preparation 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 preparation to a bucket of water.
- Contact fungicide "Hom" is used against many misfortunes. 40 g of the substance are dissolved in 10 l of water.
- Iskra will help get rid of aphids and other pests. Dissolve 1 tablet in a bucket of water.
- Insecticidal agent "Bi-58" is effective against many pests. Add 10 ml of the preparation to a bucket of water. Cannot be used during the flowering period, as the solution has a detrimental effect on bees.
When processing garden trees, be sure to observe personal protective measures.
Folk remedies
It is safe to sprinkle apple trees with folk compositions:
- Prepare a tincture of shag. 400 g of makhorka is added to 10 liters of water. The finished concentrate is again diluted 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 is started.
- To prepare an infusion from wood ash, you need to dissolve 100 g of the substance in 10 liters of water and add 25 g of urea.
- An infusion of bitter wormwood helps to cope with pests. You need to take 340 g of dried, chopped grass and pour 10 liters of water. After a day, the solution is put on fire and boiled after boiling 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 the garden.
How to properly handle an apple tree
The protection of apple trees should be carried out year-round, but only if all the recommendations are followed will it be possible to preserve the seedlings and the number of the harvest. In each growing season of the fruit crop, a number of rules must be observed.
It is important to choose the right spray bottle. The solution should be evenly distributed over the entire surface of the trunk and branches.Spraying is carried out in the evening, in dry, calm 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 the prevention of diseases. Spraying is carried out only if the treatment was not carried out before bud break.
As a means of choice: Bordeaux liquid, suspension "Kaptan", copper sulfate, urea, "Chlorofos". The trunks and branches are processed.
During fruiting
The fruiting period is no exception for the appearance of diseases and even more so pests. At this time, the processing of trees with fruits is carried out with extreme caution.
The branches damaged by diseases are removed from the trees, and healthy ones are treated with such drugs as "Skor", "Fitosporin". Young branches are removed with pruning shears, and old ones with a saw. Safe products such as "Bitoxibacillin", "Lepidocide" will help to get rid of pests. But even these preparations are undesirable to use later than a month before harvest.
After harvest
To reduce diseases and reproduction of pests, an autumn preventive treatment is carried out. After harvesting, water can be watered with solutions based on copper and iron sulfate, urea, lime. Ready-made preparations are also used: "30+", "Entobacterin".
What drugs and solutions are harmless to treat fruits
Biological preparations are considered safe for plants, animals and humans. You can spray them even in the summer. Common and effective means are: "Gaupsin", "Good owner", "Trifovit", "Fitosporin".
Processing time
The processing of the trunk and branches of fruit trees should be carried out in accordance with the recommended terms:
- The purpose of the first treatment is to destroy pests and larvae that hibernate in the soil and bark. The apple trees are sprayed until the buds swell.
- The next spraying is carried out at the time of bud break.
- Preventive and therapeutic spraying is carried out at the time of flowering.
- To prevent fungal infections, the treatment is carried out after the fruit ovary.
- 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 with infections.
How to cover up a fresh saw cut on a tree
A cut of branches larger than 10 mm in diameter must be treated with a thick layer of garden varnish or special garden paint on an acrylic basis. Other disinfectants are also used:
- copper sulfate solution: 45 g is dissolved in one liter of warm water;
- several grains of potassium permanganate are dissolved in warm water;
- iron vitriol: 30 g is diluted in a liter of water;
- treatment with Bordeaux liquid helps.
After trimming, the place is cleaned with a knife. It is best to use a brush to apply the solution The procedure is carried out in dry, calm weather.
