A3565

ROWING APPLES
G IN WISCONSIN

Malus x domestica

T E R Y L R . R O P E R , D A N I E L L . M A H R , PAT R I C I A S . M C M A N U S
 The apple tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

C
ON T E N T S
Site selection and preparation . . . . . . . . . 3

Cultivar selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Rootstock selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Mineral nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Weed management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Training and pruning . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Harvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Insect pests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Physiological disorders . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Problem solving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Related publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

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pples
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A pples are the most widely planted tree fruit in

Wisconsin. Apples occur in a wide variety of colors, sizes, flavors, and
textures and can be used in many different ways. Trees range in size from
very small “super dwarfs” to large standard trees. Besides providing
fruit, apples can be a pleasing addition to the home landscape.

Before purchasing and planting apple trees, consider whether you have the
space, time, and expertise needed to grow and care for them. This bulletin
outlines the basics of apple production. For more information, contact your county Extension office.

Central
T HE APPLE TREE leader
Cultivated apple trees generally consist of two
components—the rootstock, the below-ground
part that controls tree size, and the scion, the
above-ground part that produces fruit. These two
parts are joined by grafting and are equally
important.

Apple flowers and fruit are always produced at

the end of branches. If a fruiting branch continues Scaffold
to elongate, it is from a side (or bourse) shoot. branches
Apple trees may be spur types where fruit are
borne on short shoots called spurs, standard
types where fruit are borne on longer shoots, or Scion
intermediates. Spur-type trees are about 25% (desired cultivar)
smaller than standard types. Graft union

Apples have two types of buds—vegetative and

mixed. Vegetative buds produce only leaves and
shoots, while mixed buds produce both leafy Rootstock
shoots and flowers. Each flower bud will produce
five flowers. The first to open is the terminal or
king flower. The side flowers open later, usually
within 48 hours of the king flower. The king
flower produces the largest fruit.
FIGURE 1. Important parts of a young apple
tree. The graft union shows where the rootstock
and the scion were joined.

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Apple flowers are self-unfruitful. That is, pollen 8–10 feet tall. Semi-dwarfs require 125–200
produced by a flower from one cultivar cannot square feet each and grow to 10–20 feet. Standard
pollinate flowers from the same cultivar. Pollen trees take 300–400 square feet or more and may
must come from flowers from a different cultivar. be over 30 feet tall.
Insects, usually honey bees, carry pollen from
one tree to another. The ideal site for apple trees is on land with a
gentle slope so that cold air can settle into adja-
The trunk and branches of an apple tree need to cent lower areas. The bottoms of valleys are
be trained and pruned to support the weight of “frost pockets” and may be several degrees
fruit. Typically, apple trees are pruned to leave a colder than nearby hillsides. Hilltops are unde-
main trunk (central leader) and numerous side sirable as they may be very windy. Apples grow
branches (scaffolds). Selecting scaffold limbs with best in fertile sandy loam soils, though they will
wide angles from the trunk gives the branches grow in all but the rockiest or heaviest clay soils.
maximum strength. The soil must have good internal water drainage,
as apple trees will not grow with “wet feet.” The
Training apple trees does more than strengthen soil should be slightly acidic to neutral, with a
limbs, it also improves fruit quality and produc- pH between 6 and 7. Apple trees require full sun
tion by ensuring that all leaves receive sunlight. at least three-fourths of the day. Shady locations
Leaves require sunlight to produce carbohy- are not suitable for apple trees.
drates needed for fruit production and tree
growth. Leaves that grow in the shade cannot Once a suitable site has been located, begin soil
produce the needed sugars for quality fruit. preparation. Control perennial weeds either by
tillage or by using non-residual herbicides. Take
The root system of apple trees is shallow and a soil test of the location to a depth of 6 inches.
well branched. The roots have roughly the same Follow soil test recommendations to adjust the
horizontal spread as the branches. Most of the soil pH: add lime if the soil is too acidic; add sul-
active roots are found in the top 12 inches of soil fur if the soil is too alkaline. To improve soil tilth,
where there is adequate moisture, oxygen, and aeration, and water-holding capacity, add organic
nutrients. Roots do not tolerate wet or poorly matter such as manure, leaves, or compost. For
aerated soils. Under these conditions, trunk information on how to sample soil and where to
crown rot and winter injury are more likely. send samples for testing, see Extension publica-
tion Sampling Lawn and Garden Soils for Soil

S ITE
SELECTION AND Testing (A2166).

PREPARATION
Once a fruit tree is planted it is not easy to move
C ULTIVAR SELECTION
it to a more suitable location. Therefore, it is desir- Many apple cultivars grow well in Wisconsin.
able to establish the planting in a well-prepared, When choosing a cultivar, consider intended use
suitable site. Site selection and soil preparation (fresh eating, baking, processing), flavor, color,
should begin the season before planting. Planning and texture. In addition, the cultivar must be
ahead allows time to adjust the soil pH, control winter hardy in your area and must ripen by
perennial weeds, and amend the soil. mid-October. Rome Beauty and Jonathan are not
typically grown in Wisconsin because they can’t
The first consideration when selecting a site is survive Wisconsin’s cold winters. Fuji and
determining how much space each tree will Granny Smith require about 180 days between
require. Smaller sized (dwarf) apple trees require bloom and harvest and will not fully mature in
the least amount of space. Dwarf apple trees Wisconsin.
require about 75–100 square feet each and grow

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Another factor to consider is disease resistance. and are easier to prune. Most operations can be
Some apple cultivars are resistant to apple scab, done from the ground, eliminating the need for
the most serious disease problem of apples in ladders. Dwarf apple trees bear fruit earlier; you
Wisconsin. Such trees will not have to be sprayed can expect a few fruit in the third year after
with fungicides to control the disease and are planting dwarf trees. Standard trees won’t bear
highly recommended for home gardens in fruit for 5–7 years after planting. Additionally,
Wisconsin. More information on cultivar selec- planting several dwarf apple trees will yield
tion can be found in Extension publications more fruit over a longer season than one large
Apple Cultivars for Wisconsin (A2105), Home Fruit standard tree. For more information on apple
Cultivars for Northern Wisconsin (A2488), and rootstocks, see Extension publication Rootstocks
Home Fruit Cultivars for Southern Wisconsin (A2582). for Fruit Trees in Wisconsin (A3561).

Since apple trees are self-unfruitful, there must

be a second apple cultivar planted close by to P LANTING
provide pollen for good fruit set. Many flowering
Apple trees must be planted correctly. Failure to
crabapples also can be adequate pollen sources
do so may mean losing the dwarfing characteris-
for fruit set in apples. You should assure that the
tics of the rootstock. The procedure for planting
two cultivars bloom at the same time so they can
bare-root and potted trees is similar.
provide pollen to each other. Some apple culti-
vars are triploid (have three sets of each chromo- Bare-root. If trees arrive from the nursery
some rather than the normal two sets) and do not before they can be planted in your area, keep
produce viable pollen. Examples of triploid them in a cool place but don’t allow them to
apples are Jonagold, Gravenstein, Rhode Island freeze. Open the container and make sure the
Greening, Winesap, and Mutsu (Crispin). If you roots are still moist. If not, add a small amount of
plant a triploid apple, a second cultivar not in water to moisten the roots, but don’t saturate
this group must be planted to provide adequate them. You may soak the tree roots in a bucket of
pollen. Most suburban residential areas have suf- water for 4–8 hours before planting.
ficient apple and crabapple trees to provide ade-
quate pollination without planting two trees. Potted. Potted trees may be kept for 2–3 weeks
Pollinizer trees should be within 100 yards of in the container. Potted trees will need regular
each other. watering, but don’t overwater. The soil should
dry slightly between waterings. Remove the tree
from the pot before planting and spread the
R OOTSTOCK SELECTION roots. If the roots circle the inside of the con-
Apple trees available at commercial nurseries tainer, make several vertical cuts through the
consist of two parts: a rootstock (the below- roots and spread them out away from the trunk.
ground portion) and a scion (the desirable com-
When you are ready to plant the tree, dig a hole
mercial cultivar). Such trees are made by grafting
large enough to accommodate the roots without
or budding a desirable scion to a rootstock with
bending or cutting them. If one root is very long
desirable characteristics.
it can be shortened, but in general don’t prune
Rootstocks control tree size in apples. Trees on the roots. The hole should be deep enough so the
dwarfing rootstocks such as (Malling) M.9 and entire root system will be in the ground with the
M.26 are best for home gardens. It is best to order graft union 2–3 inches above the final soil level.
trees from nurseries or garden centers that allow The scion must not be in contact with soil or it
you to select the rootstock. Small trees take up may produce roots and the dwarfing influence of
less space, are easier to spray for pest control, the rootstock will be lost! Don’t add fertilizer or
fresh manure to the hole. Fill using the soil

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removed from the hole and gently pack it in with tor or watering can. Dilute liquid fertilizers
your foot to ensure good contact of the soil with according to package directions. Manures are
the roots. Water the tree immediately. typically low in mineral content and should be
aged before shallowly incorporating them.
Stake trees on dwarfing rootstocks immediately
after planting. Suitable staking materials include Several weeks after planting, a light application
3
⁄4-inch metal electrical conduit, pressure-treated of a nitrogen-containing fertilizer can be made.
2 x 2 lumber or a 2-inch-diameter round stake. Apply the fertilizer evenly around the drip line
Stakes should be 10 feet long. Place the stake of the tree (the ground area under the canopy).
3–4 inches from the tree and drive it 2 feet into The rule of thumb is to apply 1 ounce of actual
the ground. Using light rope, tape, or fabric nitrogen to each tree per year of tree age, but not
strips, tie the tree loosely to the stake in a figure 8 to exceed 1 pound of actual nitrogen per tree
pattern where the tie crosses between the stake annually. Be sure to include any fertilizer applied
and the tree. This will hold the tree away from to lawns under trees in the total annual amount.
the stake allowing branches to grow on the stake-
side of the tree. Tape may need to be replaced To calculate the amount of fertilizer to apply,
periodically. The stake should be left in place for divide the actual nitrogen needed by the percent-
the life of the tree. age of nitrogen in the fertilizer. For example, a
3-year-old tree should receive 3 ounces of actual
nitrogen. To calculate how much ammonium
Irrigation nitrate (which is 33% nitrogen) to apply, divide
Young trees benefit from regular watering. 3 ounces by 0.33 for a total application of 9 ounces
During the first year an apple tree should receive of fertilizer.
1–2 inches (3–5 gallons) of water weekly. As trees
get older their roots explore a larger volume of You may need to adjust the standard nitrogen
soil and irrigation becomes less critical. Don’t application based on the tree’s growth. Shoots on
wait for trees to wilt or show other signs of water young apple trees typically grow 15–20 inches
shortage before watering. Regular watering each year while shoots on bearing trees grow
throughout the season from planting and bud 8–15 inches annually. If growth is less than nor-
break to leaf-fall will be most beneficial. mal, apply 25% more fertilizer. If growth is more
than normal, don’t apply any nitrogen for a year.

M INERAL NUTRITION
W EED MANAGEMENT
Like all plants, apple trees require some essential
mineral elements in order to grow. Have your Management of the soil around the trunk of the
garden soil tested the year before planting apple tree affects tree performance. Do not allow grass
trees and till in all recommended nutrients. or other vegetation to grow within 18 inches of
Micronutrients such as zinc, boron, and copper the trunk of the tree. A vegetation-free area of 2–3
are not required in great amounts and fertilizing feet is even better. Vegetation competes with trees
with these nutrients is usually not needed in for water and nutrients. Grass growing up to tree
Wisconsin. trunks also makes it difficult to mow without
damaging the tree trunk.
Nutrients can be applied as liquids, granules, or
manures. Granular fertilizer is usually the least Prevent weed growth around tree trunks by
expensive form. Incorporate granular fertilizer by mulching, cultivating, or applying herbicides.
tilling the soil or watering within 24 hours of Cultivate shallowly (no deeper than 1–2 inches)
applications to get the fertilizer into the soil. to avoid damaging tree roots. Organic and inor-
Liquids can be applied with a hose-end applica- ganic mulches will prevent weed growth. Mulch

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the weakest of crossing or closely parallel-grow-

FIGURE 2. ing branches. Remove downward-growing
Spread organic branches and spurs. Thin out dense areas, partic-
mulch in a donut
ularly in the top of the tree. Thinning cuts
shape around the
(removing an entire branch to its point of origin)
base of the tree.
Don’t heap mulch are better than heading cuts (removing a portion
against the trunk of a branch) in making trees less dense.
because this can
contribute to fun-
gal rots or attract
rodents.
P ROMOTING FRUITFULNESS

annual 60˚ best position

growth

is ideal because it prevents weed growth and

conserves soil moisture. Apply 3–4 inches of an
organic mulch such as shredded bark, bark chips,
or wood chips. Spread the mulch in a donut fash-
30˚
ion around tree trunks. Avoid heaping mulch
around tree trunks. This can lead to fungal rots
on the trunk and attract rodents that gnaw on
the bark.

Glyphosate (Roundup or Kleenup) is the easiest

herbicide to use to prevent weed growth around
tree trunks. For young trees, wrap the trunk with
S tudies have shown that the angle a
branch grows at determines the amount of
aluminum foil or plastic wrap before applying fruit it can produce. Branches that grow
herbicide. Apply glyphosate according to label
straight up will produce mostly vegetative
directions and avoid getting spray on the trunk
growth and very little fruit. By contrast,
or leaves (or you!). Spray only on calm days.
branches that grow straight out from the
tree are very fruitful, but will produce little
T RAINING AND PRUNING new vegetative growth. The ideal limb posi-
Annual training and pruning is essential to the tion is about 30° above horizontal, creating
production of high-quality apples and to main- a 60° crotch angle. This maximizes fruit pro-
tain the health and longevity of trees. Proper duction while still promoting growth of new
training and pruning allows light throughout the
wood for future fruiting. The easiest time to
tree canopy and is required for producing quality
adjust limb position is when branches are
fruit. Pruning is always vegetatively invigorating
near the cuts and may delay fruiting. only 3–6 inches long with very soft wood.

Remove all dead or broken branches annually,

Adapted from Oberhofer, H. 1990.
also suckers, water sprouts, and branches form- Pruning the Slender Spindle. BC Ministry of
ing narrow angles that cannot be spread. Remove Agriculture and Fisheries, Victoria, BC Canada

6
Do not leave stubs when pruning. Make cuts The best time to do major pruning is in late
close to the trunk but do not remove the collar. spring while the trees are still dormant (March
These cuts will heal most quickly. Do not use and April). Prune between late July and early
pruning-wound paints or coatings as they keep August to remove water sprouts and to allow
the wound moist, allowing diseases and insects light into thick canopies. Do not prune after early
to invade the tree. It is best to allow the wood to August as it can delay dormancy and predispose
dry naturally. The tree will produce growth that trees to more winter injury.
will eventually cover the cut.

L IMB POSITIONING TECHNIQUES

60°

Wooden spreader. For use on branches Toothpick and clothespin spreaders.

longer than 6 inches. Notch the ends or, for Use when branches are 3–6 inches long. If
larger stock, drive small nails into each end using toothpicks, gently push them into the
of the spreader, then cut off the heads of the soft bark of the limb and trunk to hold them
nails using heavy pliers to create a sharp sur- in place.
face that will hold in the tender bark.

too close to trunk

rubber band
just right

string
too far from trunk weight

Positioning weights on a branch. Various methods of tying and weighting.

Avoid placing the weight so far from the trunk You can use twine, string, fiberglass tape, long rub-
that the branch bends down in an arc; too ber bands, or other material. Take care to not tie
much bend may mean the crotch angle is material tightly around branches. Use in late June
wider than you’d intended. The position may when young branches are at least 8 inches long.
need to be adjusted periodically.

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Training young trees First year spring. Choose four or five good
branches for the lowest tier of scaffolds. The low-
The objective in training a young tree is to est scaffold limb should be at least 24 inches
develop a structure that will provide a strong above ground and can be as high as 36 inches in
framework to support fruit production. The top a landscape where flowers or bushes under the
of the tree should be smaller and narrower than trees are desired. Limbs growing closer to the
the bottom of the tree. This shape prevents the ground make it difficult to work around the tree.
top of the tree from shading the bottom of the Select well-spaced branches growing within
tree. The central leader system (illustrated below) about 18 inches of the lowest branch that are
produces a vertical central leader or main stem growing neither exactly opposite nor directly
and strong, properly spaced scaffold limbs. This above one another. Remove weak or poorly posi-
system is easy to prune and provides optimum tioned limbs that will not become scaffolds.
production potential.
Second and third year spring. After two or
Over the years, you will train two to three tiers three years, select a second tier of scaffold limbs.
of scaffold branches. These branches will form Again, choose or create branches with wide
the central framework of the tree and should crotch angles. The lowest branch of the second
grow at a wide angle from the leader. tier should be at least 24 inches above the top
branch of the lower tier. This 24-inch gap allows
At planting. If you plant an unbranched whip
light to penetrate into the canopy and to strike
tree, cut off the top leaving the tree 30–45 inches
the lower tier of branches. The upper branches
tall. Side branches will grow from the whip the
must be kept shorter than the lower branches to
first year. New branches will grow just below
this cut. You control the location (height) of the
new limbs by the height of the cut. If you’ve pur-
chased branched trees, remove only broken,
damaged, or poorly positioned limbs.

first tier

30–45"

Graft union should be 24–36"

2–3 inches above soil line.

At planting First year spring

8
 keep them from being shaded. This will create a
“Christmas tree” shape. For dwarf trees, two tiers F IGURE 3. Techniques
for maintaining trees at a
will be sufficient; for semi-dwarf trees, repeat the
specific height.
process to create a third set of scaffolds near the
top of the tree.

Yearly maintenance. The central leader must remove the ties and
remain the tallest part of the tree. The highest allow the leader to return
point in the tree is dominant and most vigorous. to the vertical position.
If a side branch is becoming nearly as tall as the Alternatively, cut off the
leader, bend it lower (see limb positioning) or leader just above a weak
prune it back into 2-year-old or older wood. side branch. Both techniques reduce the vigor of
the top of the central leader. To maintain tree
Once the central leader reaches the height you height, follow one of these techniques every year
want (usually 8–10 feet high for dwarf or 12–16 for the life of the tree.
feet high for semi-dwarf) you can adjust the
vigor in one of two ways (figure 3). Take the top,
supple part of the leader, bend it in an arc and tie
it to the support post or the stronger part of the
tree. As new branches begin to grow on the arc,

third tier

24" gap

second tier

24" gap

Second year spring Third year spring

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Remove all dead and broken branches annually, If an older tree is too tall for convenient spraying
as well as suckers, water sprouts, and branches and harvesting, more drastic steps must be taken.
forming narrow angles. By the fifth year, trees To lower the height of a tree, completely remove
should be well established with two tiers of scaf- one or two of the tallest growing limbs. Make the
folds. Spurs should be developing throughout cut where the limb joins the trunk. When you
the tree to provide annual fruiting. prune drastically, you must greatly reduce other
pruning in the tree that year. Over-pruning will
Pruning bearing trees stimulate too much growth and lower fruit pro-
duction. Spread out extensive renovation prun-
The objective of pruning bearing trees is to main- ing over 2–3 years.
tain maximum production of high quality fruit
on a continuing basis. Properly trained trees
require little pruning but must still be pruned H ARVEST
annually. Limit pruning of bearing apple trees to
Apples ripen over about a 3-month period in the
removal of weak, unproductive branches to
fall ranging from early August to late October.
improve light penetration and distribution,
Harvest apples before they are fully ripe, but
reduce tree height, and improve spray coverage.
after they are mature. Maturing apples undergo
As trees grow older, you may need to make more changes in skin color, seed color, flavor, and firm-
thinning cuts. Don’t let the upper branches grow ness. As apples mature, they lose the bright green
longer than the lower branches. Long upper skin color of immature apples. Red apples begin
branches shade lower branches and reduce pro- to turn red on the exposed side of the fruit; yel-
ductivity. If necessary, prune upper branches into low apples first turn pale green then yellow; and
2-year-old or older wood to keep them shorter green apples change from bright green to pale
than lower branches. Thin out weak, unproduc- green. Seeds change from cream to tan to dark
tive branches, and keep the tree “open” for good brown. Immature apples have a very starchy
light penetration. In the top of the tree, branches taste and little apple aroma. As the fruit matures,
can be cut back to the trunk leaving a short stub the starch changes to sugar and the aroma and
(about 1⁄2-inch long) on the bottom of the cut flavor develop. Immature apples are hard to the
(figure 4). A new branch will often grow from the touch and are very hard and crisp when cut.
base of the stub. Mature fruit should be firm but not hard.
Different apple cultivars vary in their firmness at
maturity.

FIGURE 4. Pruning to promote new growth.

1 2-inch
⁄
stub

10
To harvest fruit, hold the apple in the palm of
your hand and twist it slightly while pulling.
I NSECT PESTS
Gripping apples using only your fingertips will Over 50 types of insects attack apple trees,
bruise the fruit. Avoid pulling spurs or branches foliage, or fruit in Wisconsin. Of these, about a
from the tree—these structures contain fruit buds dozen are fairly common, but not all occur at
for next year’s crop. Gently place fruit into a pick- damaging levels every year or in every location.
ing bag or basket. Never throw or drop fruit as
There are two approaches to apple insect man-
this will bruise the fruit. Empty the container care-
agement: a preventive approach where insecti-
fully into boxes or bins to prevent bruising fruit.
cides are applied routinely regardless of actual
insect damage, and a curative approach where
S TORAGE controls are applied only when pests are present
and capable of causing significant damage.
Once harvested, many apples will keep for sev-
eral months if stored properly. Summer apples, The preventive approach is used by apple grow-
which ripen before Labor Day, generally do not ers who are unable to do routine pest monitoring
store well and can be kept only a few days to 2 or who are uncomfortable trying to identify pests
weeks. Fall- or winter-ripening apples, which and damage.
ripen in September and October, will store well
for 1–5 months. If you plan to store the apples, A minimal preventive program uses three to four
harvest them before the peak of maturity while insecticide sprays per year, timed at petal fall,
they are still firm. Discard or use any blemished, 2 weeks after the first spray, mid-July, and early
diseased, or damaged fruit. Store only the best August. This spray program usually protects a
fruit. Overripe or bruised apples will not only substantial proportion of fruit. Where the best
store poorly, but the ethylene gas they produce possible fruit quality is desired, or where insect
will shorten the storage life of sound fruit. numbers are high, a more thorough insecticide
program may be necessary, with applications at
Cool apples promptly and keep them constantly 10- to 14-day intervals starting at petal fall and
cold. For short-term storage, refrigerate at tem- extending through August or early September.
peratures below 40°F. For longer storage, temper-
atures of 32°–34°F and high humidity are The best approach to insect pest management is
required. Don’t allow fruit to freeze. Keeping the curative approach. This involves learning to
fruit in plastic bags with small holes in the bags recognize common pests and the types of injury
will help avoid water loss and shriveling. Check caused, monitoring pest activity routinely
the fruit occasionally and remove soft or dam- (weekly throughout the growing season), and
aged fruit. applying insecticides only when necessary.

The chart (table 1) will help you determine when

to monitor for the most serious insect pests. It
summarizes when insects are likely to be present,
and the best times to apply controls. Use the
chart together with the detailed insect informa-
tion to know when controls are appropriate.

Several methods can be used to monitor insect

activity, including sticky traps, pheromone traps,
and visual inspection. Not all methods work on
all insects. Specific monitoring information is
given for each pest.

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Pheromone traps are sticky traps with a synthe- decomposes around the site of the sting, causing
sized attractant that mimics the natural odor or a small, darkened depression. The eggs hatch
pheromone produced by female moths for into tiny, transparent larvae that tunnel through
attracting males for mating. The traps catch the fruit, leaving slender, brown trails. Fruit start
males and help identify when mating occurs. to deteriorate and eventually fall from the tree.
Traps can be purchased at better garden centers
and through mail-order catalogs. For best results, Apple maggots also attack pear, cherry, and
follow manufacturer’s directions. More informa- plum, as well as native hawthorn.
tion on insect trapping can be found in Extension
Description. The apple maggot fly is about
publication Insect Traps for Home Fruit Insect
two-thirds the size of a common house fly. Its
Control (NCR359).
body and wings are marked with black and
Do not use insecticides during the blossom white bands and spots. The larvae are headless,
period. Apples are pollinated by honey bees and legless cream-colored maggots about 1⁄3-inch long
other insects. Broad-spectrum insecticides when fully grown. Young larvae are very tiny
applied during flowering will kill these beneficial and virtually transparent, making them difficult
insects and interfere with pollination. to find within apple fruit, even with the aid of a
microscope.
The following descriptions are of the most seri-
ous apple insects in Wisconsin. More thorough Monitoring. Hang sticky traps during the last
and inclusive descriptions can be found in week in June and continue trapping until the first
Extension publication Common Tree Fruit Pests frost. There are two types of apple maggot traps:
(NCR63). For additional information on specific yellow sticky boards and red sticky spheres.
pests and pesticides, see also the list of publica- Yellow traps are less efficient, but pick up insects
tions at the end of this book. before they start to lay eggs. The red sphere trap
is efficient for monitoring reproductively mature
flies. An “apple volatile” lure, available for hang-
Fruit-damaging insects ing with the red sphere, greatly increases the
The most serious insect pests of apples are those attractancy of this type of trap.
that directly damage the fruit. These include
apple maggot (railroad worm), various types of Apple maggot traps are not as selective as
caterpillars such as leafrollers, fruitworms, and pheromone traps; many different types of insects
codling moth, plum curculio, and rosy apple can be caught on apple maggot traps. For this
aphid. reason, it is important to be able to recognize the
apple maggot fly and differentiate it from other,
Apple maggot similar insects. Two types of cherry fruit flies
(railroad worm) occur in Wisconsin and are easily mistaken for the
The adult apple maggot is apple maggot fly. They can be distinguished based
a type of fly that lays eggs on differences in wing pattern (see illustration).
1⁄ 4"
in fruit. The larvae tunnel
Wing banding pattern of fruit flies
throughout the fruit, causing it to deteri-
orate and drop. Apple maggot is a summer pest,
causing injury from early July until harvest. If Apple maggot
uncontrolled, it is the most serious insect pest of
apples in Wisconsin.
Black cherry fruit fly
Type of damage. The adult apple maggot fly
lays eggs under the skin of apple fruit. Several
eggs may be laid in a single fruit. The fruit Cherry fruit fly

12
T ABLE 1. Approximate dates for monitoring and controlling insect Monitor adult insects
pests. Dates will vary depending on weather and location in state. Monitor larvae and/or damage
Do not apply insecticides during blossom period. Control periods

ts
be

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er
em
st

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tob
gu
ril
arc

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ay

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Ap

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Fruit-damaging insects
Apple maggot Hang sticky traps last week in June.
Control is most critical July through
August.

Caterpillars
Fruittree leafroller Hang pheromone traps early June. Critical
monitoring time during bloom. Spray once
at petal fall.

Redbanded leafroller Hang pheromone traps mid-April and mid-

July. Spray once at petal fall and for second
generation if necessary.

Green fruitworm Spray once before blossom or at petal fall.

Codling moth Hang pheromone traps early May. Apply

first spray at petal fall.

Plum curculio Apply first spray at petal fall. Check fruit

for egg-laying damage in spring, feeding
damage in late summer.

Rosy apple aphid Control as needed starting at petal fall.

Plant-damaging insects
Caterpillars Several species can damage fruit and
foliage throughout season. Apply controls as
necessary.

Scale insects Monitor fruit, foliage, and stems

throughout year. Spray before budbreak or
during crawler stage.

Spider mites Most damage occurs mid-June through

August. Apply dormant spray, treat as
needed throughout season.

Spotted tentiform leafminer Hang pheromone traps early April. Count

mines mid-June, early August, and early
October.a
aNo control exists for home gardeners; commercial apple growers, see Extension publication Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide (A3314).

13
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Check fruit for damage beginning mid-July and Type of damage. The larvae feed on both
continuing until harvest. Infested fruit can be leaves and fruit. Young larvae feed on leaves
detected by the shrunken, discolored dimples. during the blossom period, causing minimal
When cut into, the normally white flesh will be damage to the tree. Leafrollers use silken web-
crossed with the pale brown trails of the young bing to roll leaves or tie two or more leaves
maggots. together, creating a refuge in which they live and
feed. Leaves are often tied around clusters of
Prevention and control. Use, destroy, or bury young developing fruit, and the larvae feed on
infested fruit as soon as they fall from the tree. the fruit surface, causing superficial smooth or
Do not compost these fruit because larvae may corky brown scars. Such damage caused early in
survive. fruit development heals naturally, and, although
the fruit is scarred, the flesh is usable and does
Apple maggots can be controlled by trapping.
not rot. In contrast, green fruitworms do not tie
Use the round red spheres along with the com-
leaves together and they feed deeper into the
mercial apple volatile bait. Research shows that
young fruit. Feeding damage from green fruit-
one trap per 100 apples will catch most flies and
worms may cause the fruit to abort and drop
will minimize fruit injury. In larger plantings,
from the tree. More mature fruit in summer are
place a ring of traps around the planting by
not able to heal feeding wounds, and usually fall
hanging traps every 50 feet on the outside of the
from the tree and rot. Leafrollers, green fruit-
perimeter trees.
worms, and similar caterpillars do not tunnel
Apple maggots can be controlled with insecti- into fruit, but feed only from the surface.
cides. In lightly infested areas, spray in early July
Leafrollers, green fruitworms, and similar cater-
and repeat once or twice at 2- to 3-week inter-
pillars feed on many types of broadleaf trees and
vals. Reduce the time between sprays in heavily
shrubs, often in wooded areas adjacent to where
infested areas. Sprays can be timed by using
apples are planted. Some types also readily feed
traps to monitor for adult fly activity; spray
on other cultivated fruit plants, including pear,
when the first flies are caught, and again after
apricot, plum, and even berries.
subsequent catches, but no more frequently than
every 2 weeks. Description. Leafroller larvae are pale yellow
Caterpillars—leafrollers, fruitworms, to pale brown, and have a yellowish, brown, or
and others black head, depending on species. They grow
from 1⁄8-inch long at hatching to about 3⁄4-inch
The larvae (caterpillars or “worms”) of several long. Green fruitworms are much larger and
types of moths feed on apple foliage and fruit. robust, growing to over 1-inch long. They are
Leafrollers (especially redbanded leafrollers and green and may have small white spots or pale
fruittree leafrollers) and green fruitworms are the lines which run the length of the body.
most common, but others include inchworms,
cankerworms, and webworms. Most of these are Monitoring. Check during the blossom period
early-season pests, causing damage shortly after for signs of larval feeding, which may appear as
the blossom period, although a few cause dam- tattered leaves or leaves with holes chewed in
age in midsummer. them. Also check for leaves that appear stuck
1 together; carefully separate these to determine if
⁄ 2–3⁄ 4"
leafroller larvae can be found.

14
Pheromone traps are available for redbanded and Description. Codling moth larvae are less than
fruittree leafrollers. These will help determine 1
⁄8-inch long when they first hatch, eventually
flight periods and therefore when eggs are being growing to over 1⁄2 inch. Older larvae have a
laid. Trap for redbanded leafroller mid-April brown or black head and a body that is creamy
through mid-June and again from mid-July white to slightly pinkish in color. Larvae have
through August. Trap for fruittree leafroller three pairs of conspicuous legs near the head and
adults from mid-June through mid-July. a series of fleshy legs along the body. Adult
codling moths have wings with slender bands of
Prevention and control. Insect populations alternating gray and tan; the tips of the front
vary from year to year, in part depending on wings are shiny golden-brown. The wings are
numbers in nearby forests, wood lots, or aban- held tent-like over the body.
doned fruit trees. In some years they may be
essentially nonexistent, whereas in other years, Monitoring. Pheromone traps are available for
severe defoliation or fruit injury may occur if the codling moth. Hang traps at the beginning of
trees are not protected. bloom and maintain them through mid-August.
Replace the lures in early July in preparation for
Insecticide sprays applied at petal fall (the very the second flight of adult moths. Check traps
end of bloom, when 75% of the flowers have weekly.
fallen) will control most types of caterpillars.
Traditional insecticides may be used. Also, micro- Damage by larvae is easily observed because of
bial insecticides containing the active ingredient the piles of frass on the outside of the fruit. For
Bacillus thuringiensis will usually provide satisfac- positive confirmation, cut open a suspect apple
tory control as long as they are applied when the and check for feeding injury and rot in the core.
larvae are very young.
Prevention and control. If possible, eliminate
Codling moth 5
⁄ 16" wild hosts (apple, pear, hawthorn) growing
within 100 yards of cultivated apple trees.
Codling moth lar-
Remove windfall fruit, which are usually insect
vae are caterpillars
infested. If these fruit are not utilized, bury at
that feed entirely
least 2 feet deep. Larvae can complete develop-
within the fruit.
ment if fruit are merely composted. Spraying
This is one of the insect pests that cause
once at petal fall and again about 10 days later
“wormy” apples. Codling moth is not native to
gives the most control. If numerous wild host
North America; its original home is Asia. It now
plants grow nearby, apple trees will need an
occurs throughout the world, and is considered
additional one to two sprays to control the sum-
to be the single most important insect pest of
mer generation. Time the sprays based on notice-
apples worldwide.
able increases in pheromone trap catches, usually
Type of damage. Tiny codling moth larvae from mid-July to early August. Microbial insecti-
bore into the fruit and tunnel to the core. They cides containing Bacillus thuringiensis are not par-
feed on the developing seeds and adjacent tis- ticularly effective against this insect.
sues. Their feeding leaves black residues and rots
the center of the fruit. One or more noticeable
tunnels lead directly to the outside, and insect
waste (frass) can pile up on the skin of the fruit.
Damaged fruit fall from the tree and decompose.
If harvested, damaged fruit rot rapidly, even if
refrigerated.

15
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Plum curculio Prevention and control. Collect and bury

windfalls as soon as they fall. As the weevils can
Plum curculio is a native
easily tunnel through soil, bury fruit at least 2–3
species of weevil, a type of
feet deep. If possible, remove vegetation from
beetle. As its name suggests,
fence rows and eliminate other sites where bee-
its preferred host is plum
tles may overwinter. Chickens readily feed on
but it attacks other stone
migrating beetles and may provide some benefit.
fruits as well as apple and
1
⁄ 4" Do not allow chickens to forage in areas treated
pear. Plum curculio is com-
with pesticides or where there may be pesticide
mon throughout Wisconsin and is one of the
drift or runoff. Appropriate insecticides applied
most damaging apple insects.
at petal fall and 10–14 days later will provide
Type of damage. Plum curculios damage excellent control.
apples in three ways: egg laying, larvae feeding
Rosy apple aphid
within the fruit, and adults feeding at the fruit
surface. The adult female scars the fruit surface There are several types of
at egg laying by cutting small crescent-shaped aphids that feed on apple
flaps in the skin of young fruit. This damage trees. Of these, rosy apple
occurs when the fruit are smaller than 11⁄2 inches aphid is the only type that 1
⁄ 8"
in diameter. As the fruit grows, it becomes very injures the fruit.
misshapen, with lumps and dimples. Many eggs
Type of damage. Aphids feed by sucking plant
and young larvae do not survive in the hard tis-
sap from leaves and small succulent stems.
sue of young apples. If
During feeding, they inject saliva into the plant
they do, the larvae tun-
to aid in feeding and digestion. Aphid saliva is
nel through the fruit,
often toxic to the plant. When rosy apple aphids
causing considerable
feed near young fruit, the injected saliva is
deterioration and even-
moved by the plant into the fruit, resulting in
tual fruit drop. Adults
small, hard, misshapen apples.
feed on the fruit surface,
causing small, shallow Description. These aphids are about 1⁄8-inch
scars caused by
irregular holes. The sur- egg laying long and are generally found in large colonies.
rounding areas decay and rot. They vary in color from a pale rose to dark pur-
ple and are partially covered by a whitish, dusty
Description. Adult weevils are less than 1⁄4-inch
material. Occasionally, black, winged individuals
long and are gray-brown to dark brown. The
can be seen in the colony.
plum curculio has three pairs of bumps on the
back, and a long curved snout on the front of the Monitoring. Check leaves near flower clusters
head. The larvae are pale and grub-like, with a from the end of the blossom period through June.
distinct pale brown head but no legs. Fully Infested leaves will be curled, with the aphids
grown larvae are about 1⁄4-inch long. feeding on the lower leaf surfaces. The clusters of
small aphids are easily seen. Do not confuse rosy
Monitoring. Monitor for adult weevils from
apple aphid with other aphids which are not as
mid-April through mid-June and again from late
damaging.
July through mid-September. To monitor, spread
a white sheet beneath a tree, then sharply tap the Prevention and control. Elimination of
branches with a stick. Adults will fall to the broadleaf weeds from the vicinity of the apple
sheet, pretending to be dead. Check fruit for 4 trees may help reduce local populations by
weeks beginning shortly after petal fall; look for requiring the winged aphids to fly further to find
the characteristic crescent-shaped scars. their required alternate summer host plant, nar-
row-leafed plantain.
16
Native natural enemies, such as lady beetles and Scale insects
lacewings help control all aphids attacking
Scales are tiny insects that feed by sucking sap
apples. Lacewing eggs can be purchased com-
from branches, leaves, or fruit. During most of
mercially and released into the trees during the
their lives, scale insects are motionless and cov-
blossom period to augment native natural ene-
ered by a hard waxy coating. The shape and size
mies; we do not recommend purchasing lady
of the coating varies with species. Two scale
beetles because they disperse too rapidly after
insects occasionally occur on Wisconsin apple
release.
trees, San Jose scale and oystershell scale.
An appropriate insecticide applied at petal fall
Type of damage. Young scale crawlers can set-
will control aphids. Insecticidal soap will provide
tle on fruit. Their feeding leaves small (1⁄8–1⁄4 inch
some control if coverage is thorough.
in diameter) red halos on green or yellow fruit. In
addition to fruit injury, heavy infestations can
Plant-damaging insects stress trees and result in die-back of stems and
Insects and mites that feed on foliage or branches branches.
weaken trees. Severe infestations can cause trees
Description San Jose scale is very tiny, only
to grow poorly, resulting in reduced bloom and
about 1⁄16 inch when fully grown. The covering is
fruit set, and small, low-quality fruit. This group
circular, in the shape of a flattened cone. They
of pests includes aphids, caterpillars, scale
overwinter as partially grown scales on the tree.
insects, spider mites, and leafminers.
They mature and produce young, called
Aphids crawlers, by mid-June. Crawlers seek appropriate
places to settle and start to feed. A second gener-
Several types of aphids feed on apple foliage and
ation occurs in summer. Because of their tiny size
young stems throughout the growing season.
and brown color, San Jose scales are difficult to
Feeding damage often causes newly developing
see on branches or trunk; they are usually first
leaves to twist and curl. Other than rosy apple
noticed when they start to infest fruit. By this
aphid, aphids are generally of minor conse-
time, the tree is usually heavily infested.
quence to apple trees. For information on preven-
tion and control, see rosy apple aphids. Oystershell scale is less common than San Jose
scale, but causes similar damage. It is slightly
Caterpillars
larger and elongate, in the shape of a mussel
Various caterpillar species are important defolia- shell. It overwinters in the egg stage under the
tors of apple trees. Some feed on fruit as well as scale covering of the mother. Eggs hatch 2–3
leaves. Eastern tent caterpillar and fall webworm weeks after apple blossom and crawlers move
are common problems. Both caterpillars are rela- about until they find an appropriate place to set-
tively large and hairy. Eastern tent caterpillars tle on the stems or branches of the tree; occasion-
spin densely webbed “tents” in early spring, ally they will settle on young fruit. The scales
soon after the first leaves have formed. The lar- grow slowly throughout the year, and there is
vae first feed in groups, outside of their tents, only a single generation per year.
and several colonies can completely defoliate a
tree. They return to their tents when not feeding.
Fall webworms produce large loose tents which
surround the colonies of feeding larvae; there are
two generations, spring and late summer. For a
discussion of control, see the previous section on
caterpillars in “Fruit-Damaging Insects.” 1
⁄ 16" 1
⁄ 8"

San Jose scale Oystershell scale

17
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Monitoring. Because of their small size, scale Monitoring. Because of their very small size, it
insects are often overlooked unless they are is helpful to have a 10- or 15-power magnifying
abundant. If the characteristic fruit damage is glass when checking for mites. If you see leaf dis-
seen, carefully examine the tree trunk and coloration and suspect mites, check 10 randomly
branches for scale colonies. selected leaves from each tree. Most mites will be
on the lower leaf surfaces. When smashed
Prevention and control. Lime sulfur sprays or between thumb and forefinger, or against a piece
superior oil applied during dormancy controls of white paper, mites will leave a small brownish
both types of scale. Crawlers can be controlled stain. In early spring, check stems near buds for
with one to two applications of a conventional eggs of European red mites. If eggs are present, a
insecticide, timed 2–4 weeks after petal fall. dormant spray will control them.
Spider mites
Prevention and control. Natural controls are
Spider mites are very tiny crea- important in regulating spider mites. Heavy
tures that are more closely rains wash many from leaves, especially on
related to scorpions, spiders, and smaller or well-pruned trees. Many beneficial
ticks than they are to insects. predators occur naturally; these include tiny
There are many different types of predatory mites as well as lady beetles,
spider mites, all of which are lacewings, and other insects that feed on mites.
size of a
plant feeders. Two types, European
period. A dormant superior oil spray applied at the time
red mite and twospotted spider 1
⁄ 50"
of “tight cluster” (when the flower buds first
mite, commonly attack apples.
become noticeable) will kill overwintering eggs
Type of damage. Mites suck sap and nutrients of European red mite. However, this treatment is
from leaves. Their feeding damages leaf surfaces, ineffective against twospotted spider mites,
causes moisture loss, and reduces the plant’s which do not overwinter on the tree.
capacity to produce energy for growth and fruit-
Insecticidal soap and certain types of conven-
ing. Damaged leaves first become slightly yellow,
tional insecticides will suppress mites during the
then take on a purplish or bronze coloration.
growing season, but may not provide complete
Description. Both species of spider mite are control. If numbers are high, two applications
very tiny, being only about 1⁄50-inch long when 5–7 days apart may be needed. Commercial
fully grown. Twospotted spider mites are pale growers have access to several miticides that are
yellow, with a large dark spot on either side of more effective than homeowner products.
the body. These mites produce very fine silken
Spotted tentiform leafminer
webbing along the leaf edges and veins, which
becomes quite noticeable when population num- These tiny insects
bers are high. European red mites are dark red- feed within the
dish brown and do not produce silken webbing. leaf tissue, leaving
Both types of mites have many generations each blister-like leaf mines.
year and can build to very high levels. They Heavy infestations greatly
reproduce rapidly in warm, dry weather and can reduce the tree’s ability to pro-
average more than 100 per leaf. duce energy for growth and fruiting.
Spotted tentiform leafminers are rarely a problem
in home apple orchards, but the mines are notice-
able and can be confused with other problems
such as apple scab disease.

18
Type of damage. A fully developed leaf mine insecticide use. In these situations, limit insecti-
is about 3⁄4-inch long and 1⁄2-inch wide. It is raised cides to allow the parasites to build up. Adequate
tent-like on the upper leaf surface, and is speck- natural control will return within one to two
led with small silvery spots caused by the larva growing seasons.
feeding within the mine (hence the name spotted
tentiform leafminer). The mined portion of the Rake and destroy leaves as soon as they drop
leaf dies, and the tree loses that portion of its in autumn to help reduce the overwintering
photosynthetic ability. Heavy infestations cause population.
some cultivars to drop their fruit prematurely
Insecticides are available for controlling this
and other cultivars to drop their leaves early.
insect in commercial orchards, but no insecticides
Apple is the primary host of this leafminer,
approved for home orchard use adequately con-
although some crabapple cultivars may be heav-
trol spotted tentiform leafminer. This insect has
ily attacked. Other common types of leafminers,
developed resistance to most commonly used
such as birch leafminer, are unrelated to spotted
sprays.
tentiform leafminer.

Description. The adult is a tiny moth, about

3⁄16-inch long, with wings that are banded with
D ISEASES
golden brown and white. The larvae are tiny Many disease-causing pathogens (fungi, bacteria,
caterpillars, pale yellow in color, and only about viruses, and nematodes) attack apple trees.
1⁄5-inch long when fully grown. The pupa is Diseases may damage the fruit directly, making it
golden brown and about the same size as the unattractive or inedible. They can also weaken
fully grown larva. There are three generations the tree by injuring the leaves, trunk, and
per year. branches. Damage to the tree reduces productiv-
ity and increases susceptibility to winter injury or
Monitoring. Pheromone traps are available for attack by additional pests. Pathogens must be
monitoring flight periods. Hang traps just before managed to consistently produce high-quality
bud break and maintain them throughout the fruit. For specific chemical and nonchemical rec-
year; change lures according to manufacturer’s ommendations, see Extension publication Apple
instructions. Monitor for mines starting at petal Pest Management for Home Gardeners (A2179) or
fall. Each month, count all the mines on 50 ran- Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide (A3314).
domly selected leaves per tree on at least five
trees in each area of planting, and calculate the
average number of mines per leaf. An accumu-
Apple scab
lated average of at least five mines per leaf at Apple scab is caused by a fungus and is the most
harvest will likely result in sufficient stress to serious disease affecting apples in Wisconsin. The
affect the health of the tree and the size, quality, disease damages leaves and fruit and is a prob-
and storage life of the fruit and may require con- lem almost every year. Like many diseases,
trol the following year. development of scab is favored by wet weather
especially during April, May, and early June.
Prevention and control. The leafminers are
naturally controlled by tiny, stingless wasps Symptoms of the disease are olive-green to black
which parasitize and kill the larvae. These wasps lesions on leaves, fruit, or both. Scab lesions
are usually highly effective in trees that are not make the fruit unattractive, misshapen, and in
heavily sprayed with broad-spectrum insecti- extreme cases cracked and inedible. If the apples
cides. If leafminers become a serious problem on are not cracked or severely affected, lesions can
home apple trees, it usually indicates excessive be cut out, leaving the remaining fruit unaffected
and edible.

19
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Tissues are especially susceptible to infection Fire blight

from early spring through June. After that, leaves
and fruit can still become infected, but the risk is Fire blight is caused by a bacterium and can
lower. It is important to prevent infections early develop quickly following warm, wet weather
in the season to have “clean” fruit later on. during bloom. Diseased flowers become
Severe disease can defoliate trees prematurely blighted, young branch tips “crook” over, and
and cause complete destruction of fruit. leaves turn brown to black giving the appearance
of having been burned. Severe disease can kill
Prevention and control. The most effective branches of mature trees and entire young trees
method for controlling scab is to plant scab- within a single growing season. The disease is
resistant cultivars. Another practice to help limit spread by splashing rain droplets and possibly
scab development is to remove and destroy (e.g., by insects. Apple cultivars vary in susceptibility
compost or burn) apple leaves in the fall. The to fire blight. Some rootstocks such as M.9 and
fungus overwinters in apple leaves and initial M.26 are very susceptible to fire blight.
spores in the spring come from the previous sea-
son’s leaves. Fungicides are available for protect- Prevention and control. Adequate fire blight
ing susceptible cultivars and are most effective if control is usually obtained with good overall
applied in the spring before symptoms are management. Choose resistant cultivars and root-
noticed. For more information, see Extension stocks. Do not overfertilize with nitrogen as this
publication Apple Scab (A8NYDS1). encourages lush growth which is very suscepti-
ble to infection. Prune out diseased shoots by
cutting at least 12 inches below the lowest visible
Cedar-apple rust symptoms. Disinfest pruning shears for at least
Cedar-apple rust is also caused by a fungus. It 30 seconds in a mixture of 1 part household
causes small, circular, yellow to orange lesions on bleach plus 9 parts water between each cut to
leaves and fruit. Lesions on fruit usually become avoid spreading the bacteria. Destroy prunings.
raised and distorted. Eastern red cedar (Juniperus During late winter, prune out any affected
virginiana) is the alternate host for the fungus and branches that were missed earlier. For more
must be present for the disease to occur. Air cur- information, see Extension publication Fire Blight
rents can carry spores several hundred yards (A1616).
between cedar and apple trees.

Prevention and control. If possible, remove

Canker diseases
nearby eastern red cedars to help reduce spore Several different fungi can cause cankers on
levels. Many of the scab-resistant apple cultivars branches and trunks. If severe, canker diseases
are also resistant to cedar-apple rust. can disfigure or kill trees. Canker pathogens
Alternatively, fungicide applications during often infect through wounds created by improper
spring will help control this disease. For more pruning, broken limbs, and “southwest” injury.
information, see Extension publication Cedar-Rust Southwest injury occurs when trunks expand
Complex (A2598). after exposure to intense sunlight on winter days,
and then quickly contract as the temperature falls
at sunset. Trees that are further weakened during
the growing season by environmental stresses
such as drought or disease and insect pests are
especially susceptible to canker development.

20
Prevention and control. See the section on Watercore
training and pruning (page 6). Train properly so
trees are structurally strong and less prone to Watercore is characterized by watersoaked or
mechanical damage. Prune properly so wounds “shiny” areas in the flesh of an apple. This disor-
heal quickly. Irrigating during dry periods will der is most common when fall weather is warm
bolster the tree’s defense mechanisms and reduce and sunny and on later-maturing cultivars.
canker development. Do not apply nitrogen after Watercore is thought to occur when sugars are
August 1 as this will delay winter hardiness. delivered to the fruit faster than the tissues can
Applying white latex paint to the southwest side use them. As a result, the excess fluid fills the
of trunks will help reflect sunlight during winter spaces between the cells.
and minimize cracking due to rapid expansion
Apples that have watercore can still be eaten and
and contraction.
used for cooking, although affected areas may
have an off flavor and odor. This fruit will not
P HYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS store well. Unfortunately, there is no way to
determine from the outside if an apple has water-
Bitter pit core. To reduce the incidence, harvest fruit when
mature, but not at the peak of ripeness. For more
Bitter pit appears as small brown lesions that are information, see Extension publication Watercore
typically 1⁄4–3⁄8 inch in diameter. Lesions may be of Apple (available electronically only at
flush with the surface or sunken. The flesh imme- www.uwex.edu/ces/pubs/).
diately below the skin is browned. Bitter pit is a
calcium-related disorder, not a disease. The most
susceptible trees are those that are growing rap- P ROBLEM SOLVING
idly, such as young trees, over-fertilized trees,
and heavily pruned trees. Other candidates for Why apple trees fail to bear
bitter pit include large-fruited cultivars and
There are many reasons why apple trees fail to
drought-stressed trees.
bear fruit—spring frosts, poor pollination, age of
There is no “cure” for bitter pit. However, the fol- trees, too much pruning, and too little training.
lowing practices may reduce the severity and This section describes the most common prob-
incidence of the disorder: lems and how to avoid them.

■ Irrigate during dry periods—don’t let the soil Cold injury. Perhaps the most common problem
around trees dry out. is spring frosts. Temperatures below 30°F during
bloom will kill flowers. When spring frosts dam-
■ Don’t over-prune or over-fertilize trees as this age flowers, no fruit are formed. Flower buds
leads to vegetative vigor. may also be killed by extremely cold winter tem-
■ On cultivars that have bitter pit every year, peratures. This is a serious problem on margin-
consider spraying fruit with calcium chloride. ally hardy cultivars (e.g., Jonathan, Golden
Apply 1 oz/gallon beginning with the first Delicious) and in northern Wisconsin. Cold
cover spray (after petal fall). Make three addi- injury can often be avoided by choosing good
tional treatments at 2-week intervals. Calcium sites and planting recommended hardy cultivars.
chloride is corrosive, so be sure to clean equip-
Pollination problems. Poor pollination may be
ment well after spraying.
due to poor weather conditions during flower-
ing. If the weather is cold, cloudy, windy, or
rainy, bees do not forage well. Insects are
required for pollinating apple flowers. Without

21
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insects to transfer pollen, no fruit results. Apple Neglected plantings. Fruit quality suffers
trees may also fail to bear due to lack of compati- when trees are not properly trained, pruned, and
ble pollen. Apples require pollen from another fertilized, and when diseases and insect pests are
apple cultivar to set fruit. Pollinizer trees must be not kept in check.
within 100 yards of each other.
Poor growing conditions. Trees planted in
Tree age. Apple trees must first mature before poor sites will likely produce small, poor quality
they will produce fruit. The number of years fruit. Strong shade prevents trees from manufac-
before trees begin producing fruit depends on turing sufficient carbohydrates to produce qual-
the rootstock: trees on dwarfing rootstocks bear ity fruit. Carefully consider site selection before
fruit 3–4 years after planting, while those on planting.
seedling rootstocks take 5–7 years.
Inferior cultivars. Inferior cultivars will pro-
Heavy pruning. Too much pruning, particu- duce inferior fruit. Also, chance seedlings will
larly heading cuts into one-year-old wood, will likely produce poor quality fruit. For the best
cause trees to produce strong vegetative growth. chance of success, choose cultivars recommended
Trees that are vegetatively invigorated produce in Extension publications Apple Cultivars for
few flower buds. Heavy pruning can also remove Wisconsin (A2105), Home Fruit Cultivars for
flower buds once they have formed. Prune trees Northern Wisconsin (A2488), and Home Fruit
only as needed to train the tree to the desired Cultivars for Southern Wisconsin (A2582).
shape and to allow light into the canopy. Don’t
prune trees with hedge shears or similar tools. Why plantings fail
Poor training. Trees that have strongly vertical Plant death is usually caused by a number of
limbs will produce few, if any, fruit. Branches interacting factors rather than by a single identi-
should grow at an angle of 60° from vertical. fiable cause. One injury may provide sufficient
Training branches to grow out rather than up stress to allow other problems to eventually kill
will increase their fruitfulness. See “Training and the tree. Several common reasons for tree death
Pruning” for advice on correcting this problem. are described below.

Winter injury. Although apples are generally

Poor fruit quality cold hardy in Wisconsin, extremely cold weather
In some instances apple trees produce fruit but will damage the scion or the rootstock or both.
the apples are small and of poor quality. A vari- Winter-injured trees generally leaf out normally
ety of factors can lead to poor fruit quality. in the spring and may even flower. The leaves
are typically small and narrow and if the damage
Fruit from rootstock. Most apple trees are is severe the tree may die within 4–6 weeks. The
“two-piece trees” composed of a rootstock and a layer beneath the bark (cambium) is normally
scion. If the scion (which produces fruit of a spe- cream colored but turns reddish brown when
cific type) is killed but the rootstock continues to damaged. Even modest winter injury may
grow, the rootstock can produce fruit. This fruit weaken trees making them more susceptible to
is typically inferior in size, taste, and quality. insect and disease damage. To minimize winter
Occasionally nurseries miss removing a tree injury, select only cultivars that are hardy in your
when the scion budding or grafting was unsuc- area, plant trees in appropriate sites, control
cessful. If an apple tree is girdled or is killed back insect and disease pests, and allow trees to
to the ground, it is better to replace the tree than “harden off” by not fertilizing after August 1 and
to risk having the rootstock produce fruit. not pruning after August 15.

22
Too much water. Apple trees will not tolerate Deer will also feed on apple trees. Deer tend to
“wet feet.” Poor soil drainage is common in soils eat the tips of the shoots in late winter or early
with a high clay content or in low areas. Standing spring. When deer browse trees heavily it is more
water lasting more than 1–2 days during the difficult to train and prune trees correctly. Deer
growing season will likely damage the roots. may also rub against young trees, scraping off
Water fills the pores in the soil, depriving the the bark and killing the tree. If deer pressure is
roots of oxygen. Prolonged periods of standing heavy, only fencing will keep deer away from
water create ideal conditions for crown and root trees. However, if deer pressure is low, repellents
rot, a disease that can kill the tree. Avoid these can reduce or eliminate injury. Inexpensive repel-
problems by choosing sites with good soil lents include hanging human hair or slaughter-
drainage. house tankage in fabric net bags in each tree.
Small hotel-size bars of soap can also be effective
Too little water. Young apple trees are espe- repellents. Leave the wrapper on the bar and
cially susceptible to drought. When water is in poke a hole through the soap and hang it on the
short supply, roots cannot supply enough water tree with a short piece of wire. All repellents last
to replace that lost by the leaves through transpi- only a few weeks to a few months and need to be
ration. Sandy soils can not hold much water and replenished often. For more information, see
are particularly drought-prone. Prevent drought Extension publication Controlling Deer Damage in
stress by watering regularly. Young trees should Wisconsin (G3083).
receive 3–5 gallons of water per week. Irrigation
also benefits older, bearing trees. Grass growing Insect and disease pests. Severe insect
within 18 inches of the trunk of the tree will take infestations and disease problems can weaken
up most of the available water. Remove grass trees, making them prone to winter injury. While
and place mulch around the trunk to conserve these problems seldom kill trees outright, they
water. are often contributors. Manage insect pests and
diseases using the practices described earlier in
Physical damage. Damage to the bark can be this publication.
caused by small animals feeding in the winter
and by lawnmowers and string trimmers. If a
large portion of the bark has been removed, the
tree will be weakened but may survive. If a com-
plete ring of bark is removed so that the tree is
girdled, the tree will die shortly after growth
begins in the spring. To prevent physical dam-
age, keep the area around the tree trunk free of
grass and weeds. Don’t pile mulch up against the
trunk. This will prevent rodents and rabbits from
nesting and make the trees less attractive as a
food source. Keep vegetation around the planting
mowed short, particularly in the fall. Tree trunks
can also be wrapped with wire trunk guards
made from an 18-inch square of 1⁄4- or 1⁄2-inch
mesh hardware cloth. For more information
about rodent control, see Extension publication
Meadow Mouse Control (A2148).

23
 I N W
A I S
pples
C O N S I N

R ELATED PUBLICATIONS Pest management

For more information on many of the subjects Apple Pest Management for Home Gardeners
discussed in this publication, see the resources (A2179)
listed below. These publications are available
Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide (A3314)
from your county Extension office or from
Cooperative Extension Publishing, 45 North Animal pests
Charter Street, Madison, WI 53715.
Controlling Deer Damage in Wisconsin (G3083)

Cultural information Meadow Mouse Control (A2148)

Apple Cultivars for Wisconsin (A2105) Insect pests
Home Fruit Cultivars for Northern Wisconsin Common Tree Fruit Pests (NCR63)
(A2488)
Insect Traps for Home Fruit Insect Control
Home Fruit Cultivars for Southern Wisconsin (NCR359)
(A2582)
Controlling Apple Maggot in Home Gardens
Rootstocks for Fruit Trees in Wisconsin (A3561) (A1851)

Sampling Lawn and Garden Soils for Soil Testing Codling Moth (A8NYIS2)
(A2166)
Eastern Tent Caterpillar (A2933)

European Red Mite (A8NYIS10)

Green Fruitworm (A8NYIS4)

Plum Curculio (A8NYIS3)

Spotted Tentiform Leafminer (A3211, text;

A8NYIS9, photos)

Diseases
Apple Scab (A8NYDS1)

Cedar-Rust Complex (A2598)

Fire Blight (A1616)

24
Copyright © 2000 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System doing business as the division of
Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Send inquiries about copyright permission to:
Director, Cooperative Extension Publishing, 201 Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706.

Authors: T.R. Roper is associate professor of horticulture, D.L. Mahr is professor of entomology, and P.S. McManus is
assistant professor of plant pathology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison and
University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension. Produced by Cooperative Extension Publishing, University
of Wisconsin-Extension. The illustration of fruit fly wing banding patterns is from Extension publication Tree Fruit Insects
(NCR63), courtesy Michigan State University Extension.

University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of

Agriculture and Wisconsin counties, publishes this information to further the purpose of the May 8 and June 30, 1914
Acts of Congress; and provides equal opportunities and affirmative action in employment and programming. If you
need this material in an alternative format, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Programs or call
Cooperative Extension Publishing at 608-262-2655.

This publication is available from your Wisconsin county Extension office or from Cooperative Extension
Publishing, 45 North Charter Street, Madison, WI 53715, phone 608-262-3346. Outside Madison, call our toll-free number:
877-WIS-PUBS (947-7827). Before publicizing, please check on this publication’s availability. To see more Extension
publications, visit our web site at http://www.uwex.edu/ces/pubs/.

A3565 G ROWING APPLES IN WISCONSIN R-07-00-3.5M-400