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Dear Laurel, here's the response to your question:

Hi Laurel,

I'm going to send you some links; good pruning is fundamental for good tree health and spraying your tree with dormant oil is also very helpful.

https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/pnw400#:~:text=Prune%20young%20trees%20very%20lightly,before%20full%20bloom%20in%20spring.

Making sure you have good air flow and allow the sun to come into the center of the tree is paramount to help keep disease ( fungal) away. It also help channel energy into a certain amount of fruit production, rather than producing tons of small fruit.

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/when-should-dormant-oil-sprays-be-applied-apple-trees

Dormant oil is safe to use as an organic pest control measure.

Mulch your tree with compost covered by a light wood mulch going out 4 feet in diameter. Keep all dead/fallen fruit picked up off the ground and throw them out ( don't compost them as they probably have pest eggs or larvae in them).

One last thing, fruit trees often take a year off/rest, no fruit production, so don't panick if that happens.

Good luck,

Sally Granath

St. Louis County MG

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