Knowledgebase

Apple tree is sick #794736

Asked June 07, 2022, 2:37 PM EDT

Many (most?) leaves on my apple tree are turning brown/black and falling off. Any ideas as to cause and treatment? Please see pictures (1: a branch, 2: bottom of a leaf 3: top of the same leaf).

Clackamas County Oregon

Expert Response

Hi Lawrence- Thanks for the good pictures of what looks to be a fungus infection of Venturia inaequalis, better known as apple scab. I'm attaching an article with suggestions about controlling it but most of them involve things you can do in the fall or early spring.

Our wet spring has been a boon to fungi and short of pruning off and destroying (burn or trash, not compost) the infected branches there is little suggested for this time of year.

If you lose the tree or decide to remove it, check the list of resistant cultivars in the article below.

Sorry it's not better news,

https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/apple-malus-spp-scab
Rhonda Frick-Wright Replied June 08, 2022, 12:38 AM EDT

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