What Pesticides Are Best for Apple Trees? A Guide to Pest and Disease Control

Apple is a low-calorie food with high nutritional value, rich in minerals, vitamins and calcium, and helps metabolize excess salt in the body. It is planted in many parts of our country, so what pesticides are used for apple trees? The pesticides used for apple trees need to be chosen according to their growth cycle, disease symptoms and actual conditions.

I. Common Pest Control Methods for Apple Trees

1. Aphids

They are common on fruit trees in both the south and the north. The main pesticides currently used to control aphids are imidacloprid, acetamiprid and others. Because temperatures in the north are low, acetamiprid and similar products are less effective. The currently recommended pesticides are chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin used together with systemic pesticides, such as imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, pymetrozine and others. Spirotetramat, sulfoxaflor and similar pesticides can also be used, and combined use is recommended.

2. Spider mites and other mites

Mite damage is also widespread. The pesticides generally used now include abamectin, etoxazole, spirodiclofen, fenpropathrin, bifenazate, mineral oil and others. It is generally recommended to use several pesticides in combination; on citrus, 3-4 pesticides are usually used together, and some mineral oil can be added appropriately to improve pest-killing efficiency.

3. Scale insects

At present there is no very good pesticide for controlling scale insects. The formerly promoted methidathion has been banned. Currently the more effective products are chlorpyrifos, buprofezin, spirotetramat, mineral oil, thiamethoxam and others.

II. Common Disease Control Methods for Apple Trees

1. Apple brown spot

It mainly damages leaves and can also infect fruit and leaf stalks. Commonly used pesticides: Bordeaux mixture (1:2:200), 30% Ludebao 500-times solution, 77% Keshade 800-times solution, 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 800-times solution, 70% mancozeb wettable powder 500-times solution, 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 800-times solution, etc. Note that spraying Bordeaux mixture during the young fruit stage can easily cause fruit russeting.

2. Apple ring rot

It is one of the important diseases of apple branches and fruit. It often occurs mixed with dieback and anthracnose, and is a major threat to fruit production. Commonly used are folpet wettable powder, carbendazim wettable powder and others.

3. Apple anthracnose

Also called bitter rot or late rot, it is one of the important fruit diseases of apples and occurs in most apple-producing areas of our country. It is especially severe in areas with high summer temperatures, heavy rain and humidity. Same as apple ring rot and dieback. Starting half a month after petal fall, spray with a broad-spectrum fungicide once every 15—20 days.

The use of pesticides on apple trees requires first identifying the disease symptoms and then treating the cause accordingly. Do not use pesticides blindly.