What sprays or treatments do you use in your home orchard/wildlife plantings?

TreeNerd

TreeNerd

Yearling... With promise
Ok, so I have been searching the internet for spray solutions for my apple trees, and to be honest its incredibly overwhelming lol So I figured making this post would help some others also. Fyi - I understand sprays are used in a per issue basis as well as early prevention. I am looking for more of a baseline treatment that a novice can do in a home orchard setting and what options there may be for a wildlife setting (where humans consumption isn't the main priority). I also realize the variety of fruit trees play a huge role in disease vulnerability. That being said I am curious what you guys spray and when, if at all. Any info is appreciated. Thank you!
 
You read this post and that , say this or that variety is special. Bugs love them all.........

Malathion is a god general pesticide for apple trees. Sray once a month and you have far far less bug issues than anybody else. Healthy trees are easy.

Bonide's offerings arent bad either.

Bugs and any other creature out there are plenty of problems, A variety ilth little to no disease issues is just one less problem to deal with.

Wife love's saturn peaches, which need fungicide to keep peeach leaf curl down. I use bonides copper treatment which lso doubles as a CAR treatment.

Imacloprid is a better pesticide with residual effect. Better for making market quality fruit. Is some nasty stuff compared to malathion though.

Worked with a safety guy at a power plant years ago. His dad had alot of medical issues from all the pesticides with potato farming in long Isand NY area, before it was all cookie cutter houses. Takes alot more pesticide to fight them underground though.
 
TreeNerd said:
Ok, so I have been searching the internet for spray solutions for my apple trees, and to be honest its incredibly overwhelming lol So I figured making this post would help some others also. Fyi - I understand sprays are used in a per issue basis as well as early prevention. I am looking for more of a baseline treatment that a novice can do in a home orchard setting and what options there may be for a wildlife setting (where humans consumption isn't the main priority). I also realize the variety of fruit trees play a huge role in disease vulnerability. That being said I am curious what you guys spray and when, if at all. Any info is appreciated. Thank you!
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What part of the country?
 
bigboreblr said:
You read this post and that , say this or that variety is special. Bugs love them all.........

Malathion is a god general pesticide for apple trees. Sray once a month and you have far far less bug issues than anybody else. Healthy trees are easy.

Bonide's offerings arent bad either.

Bugs and any other creature out there are plenty of problems, A variety ilth little to no disease issues is just one less problem to deal with.

Wife love's saturn peaches, which need fungicide to keep peeach leaf curl down. I use bonides copper treatment which lso doubles as a CAR treatment.

Imacloprid is a better pesticide with residual effect. Better for making market quality fruit. Is some nasty stuff compared to malathion though.

Worked with a safety guy at a power plant years ago. His dad had alot of medical issues from all the pesticides with potato farming in long Isand NY area, before it was all cookie cutter houses. Takes alot more pesticide to fight them underground though.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info! I don't like spraying chemicals at all if possible. I bought a tyvek suit and a mask for the few times I've had to spray my trees. I used to be a powder coat painter for about 10 years so I'm sure my lungs could use the extra protection lol
 
I use Bonide Fruit Tree spray and Copper fungicide.
 
I used to use bonide fruit tree spray before they changed the formula a couple years ago.

I use this now, and a copper spray when dormant

2 tbsp Captan2 50% WP + Spectracide Immunox5 ½ fl oz

And

2 tsp malathion 50% EC (insecticide)3
 
SwampCat said:
I used to use bonide fruit tree spray before they changed the formula a couple years ago.

I use this now, and a copper spray when dormant

2 tbsp Captan2 50% WP + Spectracide Immunox5 ½ fl oz

And

2 tsp malathion 50% EC (insecticide)3
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In how many gallons of water?
 
I am in south arkansas and have not seen a no spray apple or peach tree. While the trees themselves may grow ok without spraying - the fruit will not. My apples are being overwhelmed by brown rot right now.
 
I only use copper in dormant season. I about killed some peach trees using copper during growing season
 
SwampCat said:
I am in south arkansas and have not seen a no spray apple or peach tree. While the trees themselves may grow ok without spraying - the fruit will not. My apples are being overwhelmed by brown rot right now.
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Same thing happened to my apples this year, they looked amazing because of all the spring rain and then they all rotted..
 
TreeNerd said:
Same thing happened to my apples this year, they looked amazing because of all the spring rain and then they all rotted..
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Mine are slowly losing a few apples everyday. I picked some early season apples that looked good and thought I was through the worst of it when we had so much rain - and made the mistake of stopping my spraying. Then I did spray a few days ago - and think I damaged one tree - probably because it was too hot. I think in the future, I am going to apply the spray right before dark as temps are falling as opposed to morning when temps are rising
 
SwampCat said:
I used to use bonide fruit tree spray before they changed the formula a couple years ago.
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I have a couple of bottles of the old formula. I found them on clearance at Lowes for $1 and bought what was left. I gave a few to friends and family.
 
RGrizzzz said:
I have a couple of bottles of the old formula. I found them on clearance at Lowes for $1 and bought what was left. I gave a few to friends and family.
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I found a couple bottles still on the shelf - I rotate my spray application about every third time and use the bonide
 
Anyone ever use or have any knowledge about systemic root drenches? My thoughts on it are that if I could apply to my soil rather then having to spray constantly that would be a win in my opinion. I've seen a few pesticides and fungicides that can be applied to the roots instead of foliar.
 
TreeNerd said:
Anyone ever use or have any knowledge about systemic root drenches? My thoughts on it are that if I could apply to my soil rather then having to spray constantly that would be a win in my opinion. I've seen a few pesticides and fungicides that can be applied to the roots instead of foliar.
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I wouldn't use them for fruit I intend on eating. My logic is you can wash off the treatment, but not if it's inside the fruit.
 
RGrizzzz said:
I wouldn't use them for fruit I intend on eating. My logic is you can wash off the treatment, but not if it's inside the fruit.
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Yea I thought the same when researching deeper. In a wildlife orchard setting would this be easier though? I'm not thrilled about eating a deer that eats the apples that I shouldn't eat myself lol Realistically food plots/crops that are treated probably aren't great for the deer either. Seems like a double edged sword in most situations.
 
Only thing I will spray for is cambium minor attack under the bark and that’s only if I catch it early enough otherwise my fruit trees receive no spray at all. It’s sink or swim for my tree’s.
 
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