How to treat apple trees in autumn from scab: chemicals, folk remedies, pruning, top dressing

Apple orchards are often affected by a disease such as scab. Infection causes serious damage to fruit trees, weakening plantings and ruining the crop. Affected apple tree scabs look unattractive, yield indicators decrease, young trees often dry out.

Experienced gardeners know that it is necessary to deal with scab immediately as soon as symptoms of the disease are noticed. Proper treatment of scab with chemicals or folk remedies in the fall gives a good effect, and the next season they harvest healthy fruits.

Scab: features of the disease

Scab is a disease caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis, the spores of which are found everywhere. They are found in foliage near trees, in cracks in the bark, in the ground. Favorable conditions for the appearance of:

• rainy weather;
• fogs;
• dense planting of fruit trees on the site.

With strong immunity of the apple tree, the disease causes local troubles and has virtually no effect on productivity. But under suitable conditions, the scab develops rapidly, affecting leaves, bark, branches and fruits. The most vulnerable are young apple trees, as well as old trees with a weakened immune system.

Numerous gray-yellow spots appear on the foliage, rapidly increasing in size. Then the leaves dry out, fall off the branches, which affects the nutrition of the tree and fruit setting. Stains also appear on the ovaries, and then on the apples, then they harden, become covered with cracks. Almost the entire surface of the apples darkens, the fruits stop growing, shrink, and taste bitter. Apples infected with the fungus are smaller in size, and although not toxic, they are unattractive.

A harmful fungus is dangerous for all varieties of apple trees, but there are varieties that are more resistant to damage. Gardeners from all regions are fighting the scab, carrying out mandatory prevention, as well as trying to detect infection in the early stages.

Why carry out processing in the fall

The easiest way to identify the scab on the tree during the ripening period of apples. The fruits are small, with black spots, crumble. Autumn is the time to process the apple trees from the fungus. At this time, harvested, the leaves begin to fly around. Effectively process apple trees in autumn from scab special preparations, so that by the spring of planting, they recovered from infection and were healthy.

Apple scab treatment

It is easier to prevent the disease, therefore, when planting apple trees, a number of simple rules are observed. They will help protect the garden not only from scab, but also other insidious diseases of pome crops.

1. It is necessary to choose the right place for the garden, take into account the specifics of apple varieties, the distance between seedlings. For tall varieties, a distance of at least 6 meters between the pits is left, for weak-growing varieties, 1.5-2 meters.
2. Adapted varieties resistant to infections are selected.
3. They take seriously the recommendations on agricultural technology of culture: they process the garden from pests, diseases, feed trees, clean foliage, and garbage.
4. Use chemical preparations, folk remedies, taking into account the recommendations, following the instructions. Only in this case the garden will be protected from invasions of pests, infections, and by the fall there will be a rich harvest.

Chemicals

Noticing the scab on the apple tree, determine the methods of how to deal with the disease in the fall and in the new season. Priority is given to chemicals. The reasons are simple: such drugs effectively inhibit the development of microorganisms, prevent their reproduction and the spread of infection. Preparations vary in degree of toxicity, but in any case, trees are treated only after harvesting.

General rules:

• sprayed apple trees after falling leaves;
• air temperature should not be lower than + 5ºC ... + 6ºC;
• for treatment, choose a dry, calm day;
• spray branches, trunk, young shoots, as well as the soil around the trees.

Work in overalls, following the instructions

Fungicide use

In summer cottages, it is advisable to use drugs related to toxicity to classes 3 and 4. Their advantages:

• efficiency;
• low danger to humans and animals;
• no ability to accumulate in the fruits.

During the season, they process the garden several times, using products with various active ingredients. This eliminates the addiction of the fungus to certain elements, leading to a better result.

Preparations:

• Chorus (for prevention, as well as getting rid of scab);
• Strobes (diluted in a bucket of water 2 ml of the product);
• Nitrafen;
• Abiga-Peak (the powder is diluted in water, 50 grams per bucket), with a severe infection, a two-fold autumn treatment is allowed;
• Rayok - quick-acting fungicide; in the autumn, apple trees are treated twice;

Fungicides are recommended to alternate with biological products. Formulations containing hay bacillus strains (Bacillus subtilis) are effective against scab. This subspecies of soil bacteria neutralizes and inhibits scab pathogens. Well-proven drugs:

• Gamair (available in tablets);
• Phytolavine (release form - ampoules);
• Fitop-Flora-S.

The instructions indicate the norm during the treatments, as well as the permitted time and frequency of spraying.

Use of iron sulfate

Gardeners from different regions use iron sulfate in the fight against scab. Typically, apple orchards are treated in spring to improve fruiting. In the fall, treatment helps get rid of dangerous fungi. In addition to scab, iron sulfate is effective in the fight against black cancer and septoria.

The working composition is prepared immediately before use, apple trees are treated only after the leaves fall. Spraying on a sheet gives burns.

Solution preparation:

• 450 grams of powder is bred in a bucket of water;
• mix thoroughly;
• spray the garden per 100 square meters. meters - 15 liters of working solution.

The validity period is two weeks. The powder is hygroscopic, therefore, it is stored only in a sealed container.

Blue vitriol treatment

Autumn is also used for processing copper sulfate. The tool is characterized by high acidity, therefore, for spraying trees, working compositions are prepared with the addition of other elements to the base.

Solutions with this element relieve the apple orchard of a number of diseases:

• scab;
• curly hair
• phylosticosis.

Recipes of working solutions:

1. 150 grams of lime and 100 grams of remedy are bred into a bucket of water.
2. Mix in equal proportions soda ash and copper sulfate. 100 grams of the mixture are dissolved in a bucket of water. The composition is called a Burgundy mixture, in contrast to the Bordeaux mixture, it is less effective, but it does not produce a film on the leaf blades of trees.
3. 150 grams of laundry soap chips, 20 grams of copper sulphate are bred in a bucket of water.

Urea scab processing

When processing apple trees with this tool, it is not necessary to wait for the leaves to fall completely. Urea copes well with the fungus, simultaneously destroying pests and saturating the apple tree with nitrogen.

Working solution:

• 100 grams of urea are carefully bred in a bucket of water;
• thoroughly mix the composition.

Apple plantings are sprayed twice in the fall, with an interval of 10-12 days.

We fight with scab folk remedies

Various folk remedies are used in the fight against Venturia inaequalis. The “plus” of such methods: safety for the environment and humans. But the effect is achievable only in the case of regular treatments and events, and only in the early stages of the disease.

Means and methods of preparation

Mulching

Also in autumn, the earth around the apple trees is mulched, spilling mulch and soil with the Baikal-EM-1 preparation. The microorganisms contained in the fertilizer contribute to the rapid decay of the mulch affected by foliage, improve the soil condition.

It is recommended to carefully remove the exfoliated bark, mossy formations and lichens that appear on the trunk. In the autumn period, bark of a tree, skeletal branches and branches are smeared with special garden paint.

Processing apple from scab with soda

To cover cracks in the bark, a garden var is used. The tool is sold in specialized stores, it is also easy to do it yourself:

• 100 grams of rosin is melted;
• 100 grams of bees wax is melted;
• neatly mix the expanded compositions;
• add the same amount of any animal fat (unsalted);
• mix;
• slightly warmed varnish smear the bark of apple trees.

Garden varnish improves the condition of the bark, prevents the spread of fungus on the tree trunk.

Pruning and feeding wood

The fight against scab is not limited to treating the garden with drugs. An integrated approach is needed, which includes such events:

• pruning fruit crops;
• top dressing with special compounds.

At the same time, the age of apple trees, varieties, soil specifics, and local climatic conditions are taken into account.

Pruning

To begin with, after the leaves fall, they inspect the apple tree. Mark the places most severely damaged by the fungus, foci of the disease, shoots that can be revived. Further:

• sick and weakened branches are cut out;
• removed from the trunk affected bark;
• shed the soil around the apple trees with a pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• bleached trunks and skeletal branches.

After each trimming manipulation, the instruments are disinfected in a potassium permanganate solution.

Top dressing

The main nutrients for pome crops in the fall are phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen supplements do not contribute, as they provoke the rapid growth of shoots. In winter, this is not allowed, otherwise the apple trees will freeze and die.

Foliar top dressing is recommended - more effective in combating scab. Compositions:

• potassium nitrate (5% solution);
• potassium sulfate (10% solution);
• potassium salt (15% solution);
• potassium sulfate (5% solution).

Solutions with mineral fertilizers not only nourish the trees, but also have a detrimental effect on the causative agents of infection.

Preventive autumn processing of apple from scab

Every gardener knows the truth that it is much easier to prevent the occurrence of an infection than to treat the trees later. Scab is no exception, and with proper prevention, you can protect the garden from this scourge.

It is best to handle the plantings in the fall, after the apples are harvested. Effective spraying at the time of leaf fall, as well as after the complete fall of the leaves. Sick and dried branches are cut off from the apple trees, slightly peeling the bark, covering the places with garden varieties or a solution of lime and clay.

For treatments use combined solutions:

• Gamair and Fitosporin-M (diluted in water according to instructions);
• Gribofit and Imunozot.

These drugs will prevent scab fungi from developing and spreading in the garden. The combination of different means in tank mixtures allows you to reduce the total number of treatments, while getting a good result.

Boron dressing

The use of boron in small doses does not affect the increase in ovaries. But in our case, drugs are used as a means of prevention from scab.

For treatments are used:

• boric acid;
• Borogum-M preparation (organomineral additive, diluted in water, used for spraying);
• bormagnesium.

Boric acid is diluted in hot water (0.1 grams of the drug is taken per liter of water), bormagnesium - in the same proportion.

Conventional processing with copper solutions and approved chemicals

They give good results in spraying the apple orchard with a traditional Bordeaux mixture, as well as copper-containing compounds. Usually, gardeners for apple trees use such compounds in the spring, but the preparations are also suitable for autumn processing. Traditional working solution: 5%.

Application in the fall is shown only if such treatments were in the spring and summer. Effective also means Kuprozan, Zinneb. After falling leaves, the treatment of apple trees with the Zircon immunostimulant is also indicated.

Features of dealing with scab

Unfortunately, the struggle with scab apple trees for many gardeners is not limited to autumn. And they wage a real war with infections all season. Spring apple trees before the appearance of young leaves, in the summer - immediately after flowering and only with safe drugs.

Usually, in the heat, the causative agent of the scab ceases to act, the disease recedes. But with prolonged rains, the infection flares up with renewed vigor, and it is important not to miss this moment. It is recommended to monitor weather reports and be on the lookout.

Processing plantings in August is allowed only in the evening or early in the morning. In the heat, any drugs cause a burn on the leaves and bark. Chemicals are not used in the summer, since the decay time of the elements is long, up to a month, and fruits from such trees cannot be eaten.

In autumn, when apples ripen, only folk remedies are used. With severe damage to the trees with scab, the infection is not very treatable, and nothing can be changed. They wait for the harvest, and only then do all the necessary treatments.

Depending on the variety of apple tree

Almost all varieties are affected by scab, but there are those that are less stable. If the Golden Chinese or Melba grow in the garden, then the risk of infection increases.

Recommended for these varieties:

• highlight well-lit areas in the garden;
• several times a season to carry out treatment with scab preparations, always alternating formulations;
• treat apple trees with special immunostimulants that increase the resistance of the tree to harmful spores.

Breeders have bred many varieties that are resistant to disease. It is advisable to choose the most suitable apple trees for the garden, adapted in the region.

By region

Dates for autumn treatments vary by region. Apple trees are affected by scab in the south, in the middle lane, in Siberia, in the Urals.Therefore, when spraying, the weather is taken into account, since many drugs cease to act when the temperature drops.

Gardens are cultivated in the middle lane in October, in the Urals - in September, in the south - October and November.

Varieties of disease resistant apple trees

When choosing varieties of apple trees for laying a garden, they often pay attention to such an indicator as resistance to scab. Bred more than 120 varieties that are less susceptible to this insidious infection. In the selection, a special Vf gene was used, which increases the resistance of trees to the fungus Venturia inaequalis. When growing many new breeding novelties, the use of fungicides from scab is not required.

For the southern regions, apple trees are recommended:

• Fontanel;
• Fairy (fruits are used in diet and baby food);
• Red amber;
• Juno;
• Lyubava;
• Orpheus.

In the middle lane, gardeners note such scab-resistant varieties as:

• Ranetka (perfectly shows itself in harsh conditions);
• Geneva (fruits are not suitable for long-term storage);
• Venyaminovsky.

Of the early scab-resistant varieties for the Moscow Region, it is recommended:

• Arkadyk;
• Apple saved;
• Helena;
• People’s.

Uslad and Sergian hold the lead in the list of early autumn apples, and Legenda, Imant, Chashnikovskoe are most often planted from the latter.

Highly scab resistant varieties include:

• Orlovim;
• Imrus
• Slav;
• Celandine;
• The first thing.

When planting orchards, it is taken into account that during periods of epiphytoty even apple trees with high field resistance can be affected by a pathogen. Therefore, preventive work is carried out in any situation.

Reviews

Irina, Moscow Region

In different years, the scab is manifested in various varieties. It seems that there is not much moisture, but a fungus has appeared on apple trees, declared as susceptible varieties. I noticed that immune varieties can also be susceptible to disease, and at the same time, unstable ones will show themselves well. No problems with Imant, Topaz varieties.

Oleg, Bryansk region

Every season I process trees with different fungicides. I alternate with drugs from pests, and even use all kinds of folk remedies. In autumn, I collect leaves, burn them (I don’t even put healthy foliage into compost), and treat the apple trees with urea. Be sure to spill the soil under the trees. Even in rainy summer, if there was scab, then in small quantities.

Conclusion

Scab - a dangerous infection, which in the absence of care and prevention quickly affects fruit crops in the garden. Processing apple trees from scab in the fall and proper agricultural technology will allow you to get rid of the fungus, prevent the spread of the disease and get a harvest of healthy, delicious apples in the next season.