For the past two years, our backyard orchard in Northern Illinois has faced relentless challenges. With over 20 fruit trees, including apples, peaches, pears, nectarines, and plums, and seasonal citrus like lemons and limes, we’ve dealt with a host of pests and diseases. From aphids and Japanese beetles to peach rust and leaf curl, we’ve had to do the research and the work on how to prevent these diseases from killing our beloved fruit trees.
Our Approach: Copper, Sulfur, and Neem Oil
To manage these issues, we use copper, sulfur, and neem oil sprays. These treatments have been essential in keeping our trees healthy. Here’s how we use each one:
1. Copper Fungicide: Copper fungicide helps prevent fungal diseases like apple scab and peach rust. We spray copper every other week, which stops these diseases from spreading by preventing fungal spores from growing.
2. Neem Oil: Neem oil tackles pests and fungal issues. It disrupts the life cycles of pests like aphids and beetles, reducing their damage. It also helps control fungal diseases. We alternate neem oil with copper weekly to keep our trees protected.
3. Sulfur Fungicide: Initially, we mixed sulfur with our other treatments, which didn’t work well. Sulfur is effective for its antifungal properties, but it should be used separately. Now, we apply sulfur on off weeks from copper to avoid any negative interactions.
The Application Process
Every weekend, we prepare a fresh batch of either copper or neem oil in a one-gallon manual pump sprayer. We spray all parts of our trees, ensuring good coverage. This weekly routine is simple and crucial for maintaining our orchard’s health.
However, rain complicates things. If rain is forecasted soon after spraying, it can wash away the treatments, making them ineffective. We’ve learned to adjust our schedule around the weather, aiming to spray on dry days and reapplying if rain follows within a couple of days.
Observations and Outcomes
We learned the importance of starting treatments early in the season. Spraying should begin as soon as the buds start to open in the spring. Missing those first few weeks resulted in more extensive damage because the leaves emerged unprotected.
Despite the initial setbacks, our treatments are effective. Diseases have been controlled, although early damage is visible. Leaves have holes from rust, but the infections are now inactive, and the trees are recovering.
Managing Pests
In addition to spraying, we’ve had to take direct action against pests. Japanese beetles require a hands-on approach. We knock them into soapy water to kill them. For aphids, a toothbrush or similar bristle tool works well for brushing them off with a solution. These methods complement our spraying routine, helping to manage infestations more effectively.
Lessons Learned
1. Start Early: Begin spraying as soon as buds break to prevent issues. Delaying can lead to significant damage.
2. Stick to a Schedule: A weekly spraying schedule works well for us. Adjusting for rain is necessary; if rain is expected, delay spraying and resume when it’s dry.
3. Combine Methods: Use sprays alongside manual pest control. Knocking beetles into soapy water and brushing off aphids are effective additional measures.
Kern Keep 