How to treat apple trees against diseases and pests in early spring

Apple tree yield directly depends on the tree's health. Spring treatments can help prevent diseases and pest attacks. Plants can be protected with a variety of products available to every gardener. Let's look at how, when, and which products to use for spraying apple trees in the spring.

Preventive spraying of apple trees in spring

Trees are treated against diseases and pests before the fruit tree blooms. As soon as the outside temperature rises above 15°C, everything awakens, and diseases and pests are no exception. To actively develop and reproduce, they need food, so they begin to settle on young plants. Therefore, the only way to protect trees from impending disease is timely preventative spraying.

Stages of apple tree processing

The process of spraying fruit crops occurs in three stages.

• The first phase of treatment begins in early March, when temperatures should warm up to at least 10°C. Apple trees are still budding, and buds are dormant. Before spraying, all dry, diseased branches must be trimmed. If the tree has been growing in the garden for more than five years, the trunk must be cleared of pests.

At this stage, high-dose fungicides are used for spraying. The tree trunk must be whitewashed with quicklime or painted with garden paint.

• The second phase occurs in early April, when the buds begin to swell and open. This period is dangerous due to the appearance of the blossom beetle, which can destroy the entire future harvest. Plants are treated with a contact insecticide, such as Fufanon. To prepare a working solution, dissolve 10 milliliters of the product in 10 liters of water and spray it over the entire tree.

• The third phase of spraying begins after the apple tree blossoms. All spraying is aimed at combating fungal and bacterial diseases and pests. This period includes treatments with various biological, chemical, and natural solutions that will help maintain the plants' health.

Preparations for spraying apple trees

Plant treatment must be comprehensive and systematic. To protect trees, use:

• Copper sulfate, a broad-spectrum fungicide, is used to prevent fungal diseases, putrefactive processes, and pest infestations. It also disinfects wounds and promotes their healing.

To prepare the solution, dissolve 100 grams of copper sulfate in 10 liters of water and spray the plants immediately. Do not store the prepared solution for longer than 5-7 hours, as flakes will form over time, which can clog the sprayer tube. Treatment can be performed before bud break or after foliage appears.

• Ferrous sulfate is used to kill lichens, fruit rot, powdery mildew, and treat black canker. The product is affordable for the average gardener. Spraying with a ferrous sulfate-based solution is only allowed before bud break to avoid burning the fragile leaves. Treatment with ferrous sulfate not only protects plants from diseases and pests but also acts as a foliar fertilizer. Iron is one of the most essential components, helping to increase apple tree fruiting and improve overall plant health.

A working spray solution is prepared using 500 grams of ferrous sulfate and 10 liters of water. After mixing the ingredients, the mixture is left for 10 minutes to allow the crystals to completely dissolve, and then the entire plant is sprayed.

• Bordeaux mixture is used to prevent fungal and bacterial diseases in plants. The solution is prepared using 10 liters of water, 120 grams of quicklime, and 100 grams of copper sulfate. All ingredients must be thoroughly mixed to remove any large particles. The resulting solution is then sprayed over the entire tree. Treatment can be performed before or after bud break. For preventative purposes, treatment with Bordeaux mixture is performed every 2-3 years.
• Urea is used to spray apple trees against diseases and pests, as well as to prevent rapid bud swelling. To prepare the solution, you will need 500-700 grams of urea and 10 liters of water. Pour the urea into a bucket of water and stir until completely dissolved. Then, pour the solution into a sprayer and apply it to the shoots and trunk of the tree.

Folk remedies

Before the chemical industry developed and modern plant treatments for diseases were available, our ancestors relied on traditional methods. Let's look at what you can spray on apple trees without resorting to chemicals:

• A wormwood-based decoction will protect apple trees from codling moths and blossom beetles. The spray solution is prepared using 300-400 grams of dried wormwood and 10 liters of water. First, soak the wormwood for 24 hours. After 24 hours, pour the infusion into a large saucepan and simmer for half an hour. After cooling, strain it, add 50 grams of grated soap, and then spray the trees. Plants should be treated immediately after the apple trees blossom.
• An infusion of wood ash helps control pests and diseases. To prepare the solution: take 300-400 grams of finely sifted wood ash, pour in 5 liters of boiled water, simmer for half an hour, strain, pour in 5 liters of cold water, add 40-50 grams of grated soap, stir thoroughly, and apply to the apple trees.
• Diesel fuel and colloidal sulfur. Who would have thought that trees could be treated with diesel fuel? Diesel fuel is used to slow down the decay process. The solution is prepared using 0.5 liters of diesel fuel and 10 liters of water. Spraying should be done before the buds swell to avoid burning them.

Colloidal sulfur treatment helps prevent powdery mildew and scab on apple trees. To prepare the solution, take 30-80 grams of sulfur and dilute it in 10 liters of water. To ensure the solution stays on the branches longer, add 30 grams of grated laundry soap to the mixture.

Biological preparations for treatment

Modern mixtures are becoming increasingly popular among gardeners, the most common and effective include:

• Trichodermin will help prevent fungal diseases on apple trees. A working solution is prepared using 20 grams of the product and 10 liters of water. Spray before bud break.
• "Aktofit" is used as a preventative measure against codling moth, blossom beetle, aphids, and apple moth. To prepare the solution: prepare a bucket of water (10 liters), pour 40 ml of the solution into it, stir, pour into a sprayer, and apply to the trees.

Preventative spraying is a necessary agricultural measure that will help you grow a healthy and bountiful harvest. Spring treatments reduce the risk of diseases and pests by 70%. It's easier to prevent disease than to treat plants later; remember this "golden rule."