Does anyone know the best way to treat this problem, my trees are going into thier 5th year and were 3 year trees when I planted. I have the bees to consider also. The trees develop blotches on the leaves and rust colored fuzz on the fruit which it seems to deform. This is the only problem I have with trees, all other fruit types are healthy and bearing well.
It is called (Locally at least) Apple scab, and is also found on pear trees. My father use to use a dust that he sprayed on the trees to prevent it but I don't remember what it was. I'm hoping that over the next few years As I get into every last nook and cranny that I find some. It's really surprizing what I've been finding around here since my parents died.
It usually falls in to one or two catagories: Heirlooms or junk and usually both.
cedar apple rust occurs in cool damp weather and can be treated with copper dust or copper soap (ie. soap shield available @ gardens alive ). scab occurs in warm damp weather and sulpher is used to treat. both require fallen debris to be removed to prevent reinfection