Best Pest Control For Fruit Trees – What Is That? No matter what type of fruit trees you have, it is important to try and protect them. If you take care to choose the right fruit tree variety, you can enjoy all sorts of fruits that the trees give you. There are a lot of ways that pests can get to your trees, though. You need to think about what kind of pest control solution works best for your fruit trees. This article will teach you more about choosing the right pest control solution for fruit trees and ensuring that you protect them as much as you can. There are a few pests that can destroy your fruit trees, such as spider mites, fruit fly, caterpillars and many more. Now, not all pests are created equally, and some do more damage than others. Having the best pest control for fruit trees will help you to make sure you protect your plants from any unwanted critters that might want to feast on them. Allow me to go over some of the best methods for keeping your fruits safe and an overview of each of these common pests.

Best Pest Control For Fruit Trees

5 COMMON FRUIT-TREE PESTS

Depending on the particular fruit trees you have on your property, you’ll be dealing with different potential invaders. Knowing what species and symptoms to watch for is the first step in protecting your fruit harvest.

	Codling Moth: Apple and pear trees are commonly affected by codling moths, who lay their eggs on and near apple and pear fruit. Larvae then tunnel into the fruit and feed on the seeds. Symptoms you may be dealing with a codling moth larvae infestation include visible entry & exit holes in fruit, tunneling in fruit flesh (specifically around the seeds), and fruit that drops off the tree seemingly ahead of schedule.
	Western Cherry Fruit Fly: The most common pest terrorizing sweet, tart, and wild species of cherry trees—in extreme infestations, you may find maggots in every single cherry. Indicators include small holes in fruit, larvae floating in cherry harvest tanks, and collapsed fruit.
	Greater Peachtree Borer: Peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, and cherry trees are commonly infested by the greater peachtree borer, a clear-winged moth that lays its eggs at the base of tree trunks. Larvae bore into tree trunks, which can kill young or already-stressed trees. Classic symptoms include loose, dead bark, holes near the soil line, or oozing sap mixed with frass (dry, tiny, pellet-like insect excrement) around the base of the tree.
	Peach Twig Borer: Peach, nectarine, apricot, and plum trees are also affected by the peach twig borer, whose brown larvae tunnel into the shoots of budding trees before feasting on fruit later in the season. Symptoms of peach twig borer infestation include wilted twigs, and small amounts of gum seeping from tunnel openings. Larvae typically enter fruit through the stem end, and may leave frass at the opening of the tunnels they chew.
	Aphid (Various): Different types of aphids also affect most kinds of fruit trees. Aphids lay their eggs during the winter in different locations depending on species. Telltale signs of aphid infestation include curled leaves, honeydew (which is actually aphid waste), generally reduced tree health, and occasionally sticky, deformed, or aborted fruit.

HOW TO CONTROL FRUIT-TREE PESTS

There are several of options available that will work to control a variety of pests on many different fruit trees. We typically recommend fruit tree sprays with a combination of insecticide and disease-control ingredients; including, but not limited to: Bonide Fruit Tree & Plant Guard; Bonide Fruit Tree Spray; Bonide Malathion Insect Control; Hi-Yield 55% Malathion; and Hi-Yield Lawn, Garden, Pet & Livestock Insect Control. Bonide Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew (active ingredient: spinosad) is an approved organic gardening option that’s effective on various insects as well.

Whatever you choose, keep in mind that it’s wise to rotate different products with different active ingredients to prevent pests from building up a resistance to any one product. Ideally, you shouldn’t use a product with the same active ingredient more than twice in a row.

There are also dormant sprays available, which help control overwintering pests like aphids, scales, mites, and peach twig borers. Used in late winter or early spring (before trees begin budding), dormant sprays coat your trees with a horticultural oil that effectively controls pests by suffocating the eggs layed late the previous year.

Keep in mind that whatever pest-control products you choose, the goal is control rather than eradication. It’s nearly impossible to completely eliminate pests—but with a little care, you can keep them at an acceptable level to maintain healthy trees and hearty harvests.

WHEN & HOW TO APPLY PEST CONTROL

Dormant sprays should be applied in the late winter or early spring (before the first buds appear on your trees.) Once you notice new buds growing, it’s extremely important to wait until after all buds drop before spraying any additional pest-control products, as this helps keep bees safe during pollination season.

Because each type of fruit tree has its own pest species that need to be monitored and controlled, the particular pest you’re dealing with will dictate the spraying schedule, as well as the best types of chemicals to use.

• Codling Moth: You’ll usually need to spray multiple times between April and June, depending on outside temperatures. Different products require different intervals, so make sure you read the label carefully.
• Western Cherry Fruit Fly: Spray as cherries are turning from green to red (they’ll be a yellowish straw color when it’s the right time). Products including the active ingredients malathion or permethrin are often good options.
• Greater Peach Tree Borer: Pest control products containing permethrin will be your best bet. You’ll want to spray multiple times between June and August, starting about three feet up the trunk and working your way down to the soil around the base of the tree.

SAFELY APPLY PEST-CONTROL PRODUCTS

When applying pest-control products, it’s always a good idea to cover up any exposed skin—think gloves, long sleeves, long pants, closed-toe shoes, protective eyewear, and a large-brimmed hat. Some products may even require use of a respirator—make sure to read the label closely.

Speaking of labels, one of the smartest things you can do for safety is carefully follow the directions on the package for each pest-control product. In addition to any recommended precautions and personal protective equipment, you’ll also find details each product’s pre-harvest interval (PHI), or the amount of time that must pass between the final application and harvesting the fruit. Even when adhering to each product’s PHI, make sure you wash your fruit well before eating to rinse off any leftover residue.

Finally, when applying any pest-control chemical, it’s recommended to spray early in the morning or in the evening, when temperatures are cooler and winds are calm. Not only does this help prevent accidental overspray, temperatures of 85 degrees or higher can also make it difficult to control the rate at which your product sprays, and potentially introduce additional safety concerns.