momof6
Junior Member
Posts: 76
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Blight?
Jun 9, 2021 20:07:00 GMT -6
Post by momof6 on Jun 9, 2021 20:07:00 GMT -6
I planted 4 apple trees this year. This is my first time trying any kind of fruit tree. 2 of them have some kind of blight. It started with one on the end- it looks like its killed the tree. Now the one closest to it is starting to look pretty sad too. Any tips? is there hope to pull them out of it? I don't mind using some kind of fungicide this year since we won't be getting fruit any time soon- I just want the trees to survive. I read vinegar and water helps to try to be organic. I'm truly clueless. Any help would be appreciated.
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Blight?
Jun 10, 2021 7:48:12 GMT -6
Post by DirtDiva Admin on Jun 10, 2021 7:48:12 GMT -6
Reason I do not grow apples here in my garden in Tennessee! If I had to guess I would say fire blight. Fire blight is awful here in my area. I was gifted a red plum a couple years ago and after planting it for 2 years fought blight. I cut it down and burned it. I planted pears instead of apples and the most blight resistant varieties I could find. Contact the extension office in your area and they can provide you with informtion on resistant varieties of fruit trees for your climate. Looks like this Solutions are try to plant more blight resistant varieties. I hear Liberty is a good one. Controlling fire blight organicallyarborprousa.com/treat-fire-blightChemical Controlipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7414.html Removing Diseased Wood
Successful removal of fire blight infections is done in summer or winter when the bacteria no longer are spreading through the tree. At these times infections have ceased enlarging, canker margins are clearly visible, and cleaning pruning shears is unnecessary. Rapidly advancing infections on very susceptible trees (pear, Asian pear, and some apple varieties) should be removed as soon as they appear in spring. In these cases, dipping shears in 10% bleach between cuts might be wise. However, the location of the cut is far more important than the cleansing of tools. New infections that originate at pruning cuts haven’t been observed on orchard trees; instead, the greater risk is “short cutting,” wherein the cut isn’t made far enough below the canker to remove all the infected tissue. To locate the correct cutting site, find the lower edge of the visible infection in the branch, trace that infected branch back to its point of attachment, and cut at the next branch juncture down without harming the branch collar. This will remove the infected branch and the branch to which it is attached. If a fire blight infection occurs on a trunk or major limb, the wood often can be saved by scraping off the bark down to the cambium layer in infected areas (i.e., removing both the outer and inner bark). When scraping, look for long, narrow infections that can extend beyond the margin of the canker or infection site. If any are detected, remove all discolored tissue plus 6 to 8 inches more beyond the infection. This procedure is best done in winter when trees are dormant and bacteria aren’t active in the tree. Don’t apply any dressing to the wound. If the limb has been girdled, scraping won’t work, and the whole limb must be removed.
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Blight?
Jun 10, 2021 11:01:54 GMT -6
Post by DirtDiva Admin on Jun 10, 2021 11:01:54 GMT -6
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momof6
Junior Member
Posts: 76
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Blight?
Jun 10, 2021 19:48:15 GMT -6
Post by momof6 on Jun 10, 2021 19:48:15 GMT -6
Thank you so much for taking the time to gather all that information for me. I'll try the vinegar and if it don't work then just burn them and try liberty next year.
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Post by DirtDiva Admin on Jun 10, 2021 20:19:15 GMT -6
Thank you so much for taking the time to gather all that information for me. I'll try the vinegar and if it don't work then just burn them and try liberty next year. Ya know when I lived on my big farm in Missouri I grew apples and had fire blight on nothing I owned. I think it mostly has to do with your climate. I now buy apples and grow fruit that grows better in my area without the problems of apples in my area. I am trying apricots to see how they grow in the area. I also planted pears that seem to grow well here and are more resistant. Blueberries struggled in Missouri on my farm. Here they grow like weeds. Blackberries, gooseberries, strawberries, rhubarb, grapes and my peaches and plums all thrive without issues with fire blight so I will just continue to buy apples. It's about picking the battles you want to fight.
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