Apple scab is one of the most common plant diseases in Minnesota, and can be a persistent blight if left untreated. Thankfully, there are a number of ways that you can prevent and reduce its spread. A licensed arborist can also do a professional elimination service to protect the health and quality of your trees.

Here, we’ll review how you can keep apple scab at bay, and what to do if you notice it growing.

What Is Apple Scab?

Apple scab is a variety of fungal disease caused by a fungus called Venturia inaequalis. It infects the fruit of apple, crabapple, pear, hawthorn, and mountain-ash trees, causing mottled blemishes that affect the fruit’s appearance. Apple scab is easy to spot due to its signature splotches that appear on the tree’s leaves and fruit.

There are a few other telltale signs that a tree has become infected with apple scab, including:

• Pale green to brown spots along leaf veins
• Brown blotches on leaves that appear velvety
• Yellowing leaves that fall early
• Fruit scabs that grow darker over time
• Deformed and cracked fruit

How To Treat Apple Scab

It is best to treat symptoms of apple scab sooner rather than later, especially if you want to preserve the edibility of non-ornamental fruits. We recommend a preventative treatment in the early spring after a tree’s leaf buds experience a growth stage where they are visibly swollen or open.

There are several different methods that will prevent apple scab, including fungicide sprays with captan, urea, or sulfur. Fungicide can be applied to healthy trees, or trees that have had reoccurrences of apple scab. Doses of fungicide should be administered in regular, even doses, ranging from seven to 14 days depending on chemical components and precipitation.

Pruning techniques help contain the spread of apple scab by removing diseased segments. This is an ideal solution for ornamental trees where fruit quality doesn’t need to be protected.

Preventing Apple Scab

Outside of fungicide, there are a handful of other options to reduce the likelihood of an apple scab outbreak. Bratt Tree professionals recommend:

• Cultural controls: Raking leaves in the fall, in addition to pruning, makes it challenging for fungus to survive the winter.
• Apple scab-resistant varieties: Planting trees with strong scab resistance will protect surrounding growth.
• Proper spacing: By not overcrowding plants, you’ll cut out the risk of transmission between trees.
• Avoiding overhead watering: Continually damp or wet leaves makes it easier for apple scab to thrive.

Trust Bratt Tree Company To Eliminate Apple Scab

If left on its own, apple scab spores will degrade your tree’s overall health, rendering its fruit inedible over time. At the first signs of infection, count on us for a solution. Our ISA Certified Arborists will step in with guaranteed results, offering a free estimate before any treatment service begins.

For over 30 years, we have demonstrated our commitment to the Twin Cities region through expert plant health care. Our goal is to protect our community, and its vegetation, with integrity and responsibility. We use the latest industry techniques and the most advanced tools to get the job done.

For professional apple scab prevention and removal, trust in Bratt Tree Company. Call 612-721-4153 to schedule an expert service today!