Apple tree help

[aliall1]

We have several apple trees in our yard approx. 6 years old. Last year we got a bunch of pretty nice looking apples. We have never sprayed them.

This year we are pretty disappointed with how everything looks. I could use some advice and diagnosis. We are committed to treating with organic controls and don't need things to be perfect, but we do want to keep the trees as healthy as possible. We had a very dry summer last year, and this year is the complete opposite. Zone 5 Iowa. 3 different trees/fruit shown below (I hope).

Thanks!

[hendi_alex]

Problem with apples is that they almost have to have some spray regimen. There is no help for this year's crop, just cut out the worm damage before eating. Next year consider neem oil treatment early in the season, select choice fruit and enclose in sandwich bags with drain hole near the bottom. They also sell footie looking material to prevent apple maggot issues. Also practice good habits of cleaning up fallen fruit and other debris under the trees.

[aliall1]

Thanks for the reply. I figured this year is done, but I do want to plan ahead for next year. Do you mainly just see apple maggot problems or is there something else going on that I need to deal with? I am looking at the leaf spots and funky shape of the apples.

[hendi_alex]

So far I've not used any preventive measures and have only had limited damage but trees are very young just giving a few apples. Plus no apples are grown in the area. With so many haw trees, pests will likely cross over. Will probably spray neem in the winter and then again during late bloom. If pest start damaging the fruit will probably bag 50-100 apples when production picks up.

Apple maggots and bark borers seem to be our main problems. However, fire blight is a real killer in this area. I'm limited to resistant varieties.

[tomc]

Interupting the cycle of life for insects you don't want by organic practice can include pheromone traps, sticky traps, keeping the real estate under your trees clear, all require some kind of action on the growers part. Spraying to reduce scale insects can be done with organically approved sprays.

None a this gets done by sitting on your thumbs.

[hendi_alex]

Should have said no other apple plantings are in the area near our home. So perhaps pests will be slow to find our little spot.

[aliall1]

Thanks for the additional replies.

Alex, there are a few apple trees around and lots of crabapples which I'm sure host the same pests.

Tomc, Is it too late in the season for traps? I can work on keeping underneath clear now. Anything else I can do to prepare for next season aside from learning what I have to do for next season

[RogueRose]

This doesn't look like an insect to me. It looks like apple scab. Which, unfortunately, once your tree gets it, it's impossible to get rid of. My apple tree has it. You can eat around the scab. It's not super awful, just ugly apples

[tomc]

Rogue Rose is promoting you learn how to identify what ailing your apples. I'd like to second that, and encourage some web searches based on your findings.

Part of your under-tree clean up is going to include picking and removing drops. Dropped apples under your tree are the perfect self-fulfilling prophesy.

A few years of a bald raked up soil inside the drip line can go a long way to reducing disease and buggy reproductive cycles.

A little bark mulch and nothing else under there, not a leaf or fruit...