Keeping your garden safe when a few fruit trees are infected involves a combination of preventive measures, early detection, and appropriate management strategies.
When you see that multiple trees in your garden are infected, it's time to make sure that other trees won't become infected as well.
Here's how to safeguard your garden.
Isolate Infected Trees
If you detect an infection in one or more fruit trees, isolate them from healthy trees to prevent the disease from spreading.
Maintain a safe distance between infected and healthy trees.
Pruning
Prune infected branches and remove any dead or diseased plant material.
Pruning helps improve air circulation and sunlight penetration, reducing conditions favorable for disease development.
Sanitation
Clean up fallen leaves, fruits, and debris around the infected trees.
This helps reduce the potential for disease spores and pests to linger and spread.
Avoid Overhead Watering
Water the base of the trees rather than overhead to minimize moisture on leaves, which can encourage fungal growth.
Use a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses for targeted watering.
Chemical Treatments
If the infection persists, consider using appropriate, environmentally-friendly fungicides or pesticides.
Follow label instructions and apply treatments only as necessary.
