Even with regular care, fungal infestation can sometimes occur on the apple tree in your own garden. Last but not least, this can be prevented with regular maintenance pruning, which ensures a light tree crown.

Basics for the spread of fungal diseases

In order to be able to take targeted action against the initial infection and spread of fungal diseases, you must learn to understand the prerequisites for an infestation. One of the most important fungal diseases in apple trees is the so-called apple scab. This can be recognized by the following characteristics:

  • small, brown spots on young leaves
  • rapid spread of the brown spots
  • dark spots with cracks on the fruits
  • shrinking fruit in winter storage

The fungus needs heat and moisture on the leaf and fruit surfaces to spread. While the temperature is difficult to influence, the humidity can be specifically controlled.

Ensure good ventilation when planting

Especially in gardens that are surrounded by high hedges and are rather shady, you should not plant apple trunks that are too low. Half-stem or standard apple trees protrude beyond the lee of hedges and are thus more easily dried by the wind after rainy days. Regular pruning in spring and summer is also helpful, as it ensures that the crown of the tree is flooded with light.

Select or graft resistant varieties

Not every apple tree is equally affected by diseases such as apple scab. In particular, old and hardy varieties often show surprisingly good resistance to this fungal disease. In connection with regular care, the use of chemical sprays can usually be completely dispensed with. The particularly fungus-resistant varieties include:

  • Pinova
  • Florina
  • boskoop
  • Kaiser Willhelm
  • Jacob Fisher
  • ontario

If you have an old apple tree in your garden, you can cut it back heavily and graft branches from one of these resistant varieties onto the old rootstock.

tips and tricks

All measures that promote the vitality of the apple tree also provide a certain amount of protection against fungal infestation. In most cases, an initial infection with fungal diseases occurs not only because the tree crowns are too dense and the level of moisture is too high, but also because the trees are poorly fertilized and not regularly pruned .

Category:

Trees