Knowledgebase
Spraying fruit trees #867540
Asked May 08, 2024, 10:42 AM EDT
Leelanau County Michigan
Expert Response
Growing tree fruit is a rewarding experience and it does not come without challenges. Pest management for these trees relies on identifying the pest and then choosing management options that minimize pest-caused damage without harming beneficial insects like predators and pollinators. There is no one-size-fits-all approach and you will have to come up with a program that works well for you. To help get you started, I am going to give you a list of resources for information that will help you keep the trees at their best and minimize pest damage.
General tree fruit care and culture:
Considerations for growing backyard tree fruit http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/considerations_for_growing_backyard_tree_fruit
Pdf: https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/backyard%20tree%20fruit%20-%20web.pdf
Pruning and training backyard fruit trees: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/smart-gardening-pruning-and-training-backyard-apple-and-pear-trees
Pdf: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/uploads/files/smartgardening-pruningfruit-web.pdf
Renovating old fruit trees:
Oregon State University
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/berries-fruit/restore-those-old-fruit-trees
University of Wisconsin Extension Bulletins:
Growing Apples in Wisconsin: https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Assets/pdfs/A3565.pdf
Growing Pears in Wisconsin (A2072): https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Assets/pdfs/A2072.pdf
Growing Apricots, Cherries, Peaches & Plums in Wisconsin (A3639): https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Assets/pdfs/A3639.pdf
Michigan Fresh Bulletin (E3173) ”Growing Tree Fruits at Home”: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/Growing_Tree_Fruits_(E3173).pdf
Good Fruit Grower article on proper spreading of shoots and branches: http://www.goodfruit.com/spreading-shoots-of-young-apple-trees/
Washington State University page for fruit tree Pruning and Training systems: http://treefruit.wsu.edu/orchard-management/pruning-and-training-systems/
Pest Management Resources:
Minimizing pesticide risk to bees in fruit crops (MSU E3245): http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/Minimizing_Pesticide_Risk_to_Bees_in_Fruit_Crops_(E3245).pdf
Michigan Fruit Management Guide (for commercial fruit growers) E154 available for purchase at local extension offices or at http://shop.msu.edu/product_p/bulletin-e0154.htm .
Home fruit spray schedule from University of New Hampshire Extension:
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource005256_Rep7402.pdf
Managing pests in home fruit plantings (Purdue University Extension, ID-146-W):
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/id/id-146-w.pdf
Bagging fruit to protect it from pests and diseases:
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef218
https://www.clemson.edu/extension/peach/commercial/diseases/clemsonfruitbags.html