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Fruit & Orchards Trees

Crabapple tree help

beesandblues88_z7a

11 months ago

I have 2 crabapple trees that have rust like spots with leaves turning yellow and dropping. I am assuming it's a fungus called rust and was wondering what is best to treat it with next year and when should I treat it? I'm in Delaware if that matters as far as timing. I am posting pic just to be sure that I am actually dealing with a fungus.

Comments (4)

beesandblues88_z7a
Original Author
11 months ago
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 months ago
pretty sure its fire blight... at lest thats what i called it all these years ....

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=fire+blight+in+crab+apples&t=ffab&ia=web

its entirely cosmetic...

after buying the house with the tree.. and it spending most summers near totally leafless... i just got rid of the tree ..

there are many resistant varieties available ... and probably better flower performers ... they put the older prone varieties to shame... in re: the flower show..

spraying would most likely be preventative.. meaning.. its too late now ...

ken
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Thanks for everyone's comments and information. I'm OK with not knowing what I'll get from these trees, because after all, I didn't even purchase or plant them myself. The element of surprise will add to the enjoyment of growing the trees, especially after all of my efforts thus far. I've removed the winter chicken wire barrier and trimmed the bundle of spring suckers back to 5 shoots per tree. They're only about 12" tall thus far. I will water them deeply with trickling hose, as needed, throughout the summer in hopes of getting some sturdy shoots by the fall. In the past, the pencil-thin shoots have only had leaves running up the length of the stalks, but if they have branches or "off-shoots" by the time they are 4' tall, then I'll prune them back by half. Happy growing!
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Thank you Floral - Do you have any knowledge of these varieties? Growers near me offer: Amelanchier canadensis, Amelanchier laevis, and Amelanchier grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance.' I am thinking that a (single-stem) Hawthorn, followed by MS Serviceberry, and a SS Donald Wyman might be a nice pattern. My husband is not a fan of the Chionanthus, and I am seeing that the Halesia Carolina is a better understory tree. The allee will be at the west side of the property, and most of it will receive full sun. That's why I ruled out dogwood for this location. Occasionally, we get some strong winds from that direction too, as there is a large field in front of us, with few wind breaks. Please let me know if it is a "hardy" tree. Cecily - Cercis canadensis are my favorite tree, and I have several planted in the yard. For whatever reason, the cercis royal white doesn't appear to be as readily available, but I'm sure it can be had with a little effort. It's another great possibility. Thank you!
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 months ago
It is NOT fireblight! Fireblight looks like the tree has been attacked with a blow torch (not just a few rust spots on the leaves) and is a far more serious affliction than just "entirely cosmetic". It is a bacterial pathogen of major concern in the fruit industry and can be fatal if persistent or not treated.

Regardless, the problem affecting this crabapple is cedar apple rust, a very common fungal disease where both junipers and apples and their close relations coexist. The fungus moves back and forth between the two host species. Unlike fireblight, although mildly disfiguring, cedar apple rust is not a serious ailment and is not fatal.

Cedar apple rust publication
laceyvail 6A, WV
11 months ago
Not fatal, but really ugly when the tree spends most of the season leafless.

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