No one is immune from the appearance of pests or diseases on fruit trees. therefore it is important to know preventive measures and how to deal with various ailments... In this article, we will talk about the causes of the appearance of wormy apples and how to deal with this disease.
Why do wormy apples appear, what should I do?
It often happens that an apple tree gives a good harvest, but among tens of kilograms, a healthy fruit is rarely found. Why? Most of them show wormholes. Such a sign indicates the appearance of pests, the most dangerous of which is the codling moth, which leaves behind such unpleasant traces.
The apple moth is a butterfly, no more than 20 millimeters long, the main danger is the caterpillars of such insects... Butterfly years begin in mid-June and last a little over a month. During this period, they lay green eggs on the leaves and fruits of the tree, securely attaching them to the support.
During the season, one moth damages up to 5 apples, and if the fruit falls, then the insect returns to the tree.
The worm gets inside the apple through the petiole or mechanical damage to the skin.
How to get rid of worms in apples, how to treat a tree?
There are many ways to deal with apple worms. Many products are used as prophylaxis and to combat insects that have already appeared.
- Chemicals - organophosphate preparations have proven themselves in the best way. An effective time to use is the period when the caterpillars emerge from the eggs. It is important to respect the proportions, usually all measurements are indicated on the labels, otherwise the tree will be damaged. Examples of such funds are Calypso, Tod, Zolon, Atom, Binom, Coragen. There are the following precautions:
- This method of struggle is not suitable for the flowering and fruiting times of trees.
- If several treatments are planned in one season, they are carried out using different drugs.
- We must not forget that the work takes place with poisonous substances, therefore gloves, a respirator and other personal protective equipment must be used.
- Biological agents - in addition to chemicals, there are often recommendations for the use of organic substances. There are several types of such processing agents:
- Fitoverm - is the most popular among experienced gardeners, it can be used at any time and it will not harm humans and crops.
- Lepidocide - effective during periods of mass filling of apple trees with caterpillars.
- Bitoxibacillin - use is permitted only during the growing season.
- Cleaning the trunk from old bark - very often insects overwinter in the exfoliated bark of a tree, therefore, in order to avoid their reproduction, they do these actions in the spring.
- Digging the ground around the apple tree also serves as an insect control method.
- Creation of peculiar traps on tree trunksthat will prevent the moth to return to the crown. To do this, take a bag, about 20-30 centimeters wide, and fasten it with twine on the trunk, at a height of 40-50 centimeters from the ground.
- Late November and early April the tree must be whitewashed.
- All damaged apples are best removed, the same rule applies to collecting volunteers.
- Given the peculiarity of butterflies, which do not like to wet their paws, during the summer of insects in the evening foliage needs to be sprayed with water.
For the best effectiveness in the fight against apple worminess or for prevention, it is better to use several methods at the same time. This approach will help protect the tree from pest infestation.
What is black cancer on an apple tree, how to fight?
Black cancer - one of the most dangerous diseases of fungal plants, because if it is detected at a late stage, then it is almost impossible to save the tree. Most often, symptoms appear on the trunk of a tree and on its skeletal branches, but there are cases when black cancer appears on leaves, flowers, fruits. There are the following signs to detect the disease:
- The last and most dangerous stage will be wood blackening.... First, brown-purple spots will appear on the bark, which will begin to crack over time, and then fall off altogether. If such symptoms are found, the apple tree cannot be cured.
The disease gradually spreads throughout the tree, and within 3-4 years it will die.
- Spots on the leaves - they initially appear immediately after the leaves open and look like small purple specks at the top of the leaf. Over time, they grow, and the middle turns brown, then after a few weeks the bodies of the fungus begin to form.
Pycnidia (fungal formations) are arranged in concentric circles.
- The tree begins to shed infected leaves until the fruit ripens, therefore, the yield is significantly reduced even in the first years of the manifestation of black cancer.
- The fruit of the affected tree is first brownish, which in the future can completely turn black, as well as black dots and fungal formations appear on the leaves.
- Affected apples remain hanging on the branches even after falling leaves... They are painted black or brown and have a rough surface.
Reasons for the appearance
- Old garden - the disease rarely affects young trees with good bark. Weakened apple trees are more likely to develop fungal formations on them.
- Poor care - trees need to be watered abundantly and fed with various fertilizers, otherwise they will not have enough nutrients to protect themselves from the disease.
The most dangerous period is considered to be the season that comes after abundant fruiting, when the apple trees are strong.
- Sunburn - occur in early spring. If the trunk is not whitened, then until the entire snow cover disappears, on days when it is clear and sunny in the morning and the night temperature is rather low. And in a day, the difference reaches a difference of 30 degrees, the bark of the trees is burned, which contributes to the multiplication of the fungus in the damaged part.
- Incorrect or untimely pruning.
- Apple tree pests are carriers of various diseases, including black cancer, so it is necessary to timely prevent their occurrence.
The apple variety must be climatically adapted to the region, so that the temperature and humidity level do not bring discomfort to the trees.
Preventive measures
- Correct pruning - in order to avoid the development of fungal diseases, it is necessary to ensure good ventilation of the crown by removing unnecessary branches. Also, such a procedure inhibits tree aging and stimulates fruiting. It must be carried out in a timely manner so that you do not have to remove thick branches. The appearance of large wounds that take a long time to heal can also trigger the onset of the development of black cancer.
- Disinfection of garden tools - in order not to become a carrier of a dangerous disease, knives and secateurs are wiped with a special alcohol-containing composition after each use.
- To exclude the possibility of excessive moisture or, on the contrary, sunburn on a tree trunk, it it is necessary to whitewash in early spring (April) and late autumn (November).
- While preparing the garden for wintering all remaining leaves and fruits are removedthat can become sources of infection.
Healthy parts of trees can be used as compost or mulch, but diseased ones are immediately burned.
- After falling leaves trees need to be treated with fugicides... They are applied to the trunk and branches of the apple tree, as well as to the trunk circles. The drug Hom, Brodsky liquid or copper sulfate have proven themselves best.
- Regular application of complex fertilizers makes the bark more resilient and mature.
If clear signs of a disease are found, the affected apple trees must be uprooted and burned to avoid contamination of healthy trees.
Fighting Black Cancer
Most often it happens that the affected trees can no longer be restored and they have to be removed, but there is a way through which you can try to cure the apple tree.
It will be effective to carry out this operation when a small spot is found on the bark of a tree. The diseased area is carefully scraped off with a garden knife., at the same time, 1-2 centimeters of healthy tissue are captured, then this place is processed with 3 percent copper sulfate or 5 percent iron sulfate. When the resulting wound dries up, it must be covered with garden varnish in order to avoid the appearance of new fungi in it.
Affected branches, fruits and leaves are removed immediately after detectionotherwise the disease will spread to healthy parts.
One of the most significant damage to the garden can be the apple moth or black crayfish. Both of these ailments will significantly reduce the amount of harvest or even lead to the death of the tree. The main measure for the treatment and prevention of lesions will be the removal of the infected areas. and their immediate destruction.
If you properly care for the apple tree and follow all the recommendations, then the appearance of pests and diseases can be avoided.