Subject: [nafex] Seeking a Resolution on Tree Damage
Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 00:29:45 -0500
I am still trying to determine what attacked three of my mature apple trees.
People on this forum are reporting that this year was a terrible one for
fireblight.
Others are reporting losses due to the severe Winter, although these are
directed
more to blossom loss.
I sent samples of my damaged trees to the U of I Extension Service, and
they came
back with no obvious indicators. This could be because the sample were
taken
later in the Summer when the fireblight is possibly dormant. I plan to
send more
samples in the Spring, especially is I see more die back and possible
spread of any
infection.
Strangely, two of these trees have been putting out water spout type
growth with
healthy looking leaves. Possibly, I can use them to restart the trees.
I don't know
if this sheds any more light on what damaged these trees.
I am also seeing some browning of leaf tips on our other trees, but that
could be
something unrelated like uneven watering. In any case, I will add
copper to my
dormant oil spray this Spring to try and inhibit any spread of possible
viruses.
It's interesting that I am reading that this is the last season copper
will be allowed
to be sold as a fungicide in the USA. There is talk of other
substitutes. Some people
are suggesting sulfur, which also has been disallowed for orchard use.
Makes me
wonder who is pushing the buttons over at the government agencies. They
banned
Imidan, which I think is the only serious preventative for apple maggot
and plum
curculio.
Sherwin Dubren
Morton Grove, IL
[nafex] Seeking a Resolution on Tree Damage,
sherwin, 09/20/2014