Canker

[sdt7618]

When is the best time to prune canker out of an apple tree. right away or leave until normal pruning time?

any tips on getting best results as the small tree is very special to our family, was planted on the day or our son's birth.

thanks

Steven

 

[Urban Forester]

Depends on the type of canker. Fungal cankers like Nectria should be removed now, as their spores become active in the fall. The active spores are small orange dots on the branch. If it's a diffuse canker, it will probably kill the tree as they are fast moving and not readily pruned out. However I'm fairly sure there are not too many diffuse type cankers that attack apples. I would say that for most situations, the sooner the better.

 

[Ed Roland]

I would identify the causal agents life cycle and attack it when it is most susceptable.

 

[treeseer]

If you attach a picture or two you will get much better advice.

Hey weasel, what is the best stage in the live cycle of a fungus to attack it? I thought sooner is better in most cases.

 

[Ed Roland]

Hey weasel, what is the best stage in the live cycle of a fungus to attack it? I thought sooner is better in most cases.

Why do you always wink at me?

The answer is: It depends on the fungal issue.
Here are some common fungal disorders that attack landscape trees and the best time to treat them.
phomopsis tip blight - begin treatment @ budbreak
powdery mildew - treat @ monthly intervals when disease appears June-August
Phytophthora - treat April/May again in July/August excise cankers
Black leaf spot - treat @ budbreak continue monthly intervals in june august to suppress late season infections.

For more information on how to treat fungal disorders come visit the BTR Laboratories @ 13768 Hamilton Rd. Charlotte, NC 28278

 

[treeseer]

For more information on how to treat fungal disorders come visit the BTR Laboratories @ 13768 Hamilton Rd. Charlotte, NC 28278

been there several times; just phoned there today in fact. a fine resource for a fine company, and for the industry. they do get it right most of the time.

question was about cankers but you described foliar diseases. re phytop, why wait til midsummer to excise? if i see it today i should wait til next march to treat?

 

[Ed Roland]

Hey weasel, what is the best stage in the live cycle of a fungus to attack it? I thought sooner is better in most cases.

Actually guy, this was the question. Keep up.

 

[treeseer]

that question was still in the context of the thread, which is cankers.

phytop is usually lesions at first that may turn into cankers. if you saw phytop cankers now would you wait til 008 to treat?

Focus, weasel-san.

 

[Ed Roland]

I would identify the causal agents life cycle and attack it when it is most susceptable.

It could be important to identify the causel agent because this could just as easily be erwinia (fireblight). Fireblight is a bacterial issue not fungal. I would be reluctant to prune fireblight in the spring or summer do to the fact this disease will attack the newest most succulent growth. Removing auxin could produce suckers which would be succeptable. Best to prune out cankerous material in the fall.

 

[treeseer]

I would be reluctant to prune fireblight in the spring or summer do to the fact this disease will attack the newest most succulent growth.

and instead let inoculum splash around all through the growing season?? this disease spreads like fire, so waiting for the "ideal" time imo is not advisable. same goes for most diseases--get them out asap.

 

[Ed Roland]

and instead let inoculum splash around all through the growing season?? this disease spreads like fire, so waiting for the "ideal" time imo is not advisable. same goes for most diseases--get them out asap.

I think I will stick with Dr. Fraedrich on this one.
He recommends Kocide prior to budbreak. Another treatment during peak bloom. Prune out diseased sections lightly to prevent susceptable sucker growth. Or wait until dormancy to remove cankerous material.

You see, treeseer, there are chemical controls out there that we can use along with, well timed, mechanical controls.
Try combining techniques for better results.

:monkey:

 

[treeseer]

Prune out diseased sections lightly to prevent susceptable sucker growth.

Right, no question. If I pruned all the fireblight out of my pear tree now I would have no crop; a 2-stage approach makes sense, removing as much as practical NOW.

o and of course chemicals are called for with advanced diseases, so is good culture etc...