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Apple tree problem #874192

Asked June 22, 2024, 2:16 PM EDT

What is wrong with my apple trees

Genesee County Michigan

Expert Response

Good evening, Paula. Thank you for reaching out. Would you be able to also attach a couple photos of the entire tree?
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Here are more photos. The trees are miniature. 

The Question Asker Replied June 23, 2024, 9:46 AM EDT

Hello Paula, 

This looks like cedar-apple rust. This article goes into more depth on the topic (https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/plpath-tree-10). 

This is a fungal disease that circulates between cedars/junipers and apple trees. If you have cedars or junipers on your property, they are most likely exhibiting disease too. Their fungal growths look like weird, squishy apples with small horns emerging from them. Unfortunately, the spores that cause this disease can travel over fairly long distances (a few miles). As such, removing the alternative host trees may not be an option to stop this disease. 

If you cannot remove the host tree, you could also treat your apple trees with preventative fungicides every seven days from bloom until the fungal growths in the cedar or juniper trees shrivel up later in the summer. 

Best wishes,

Lindsay Brown Replied June 24, 2024, 1:45 PM EDT

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