apple tree trouble

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I have an apple tree in my backyard, that has spots appearing on all the leaves. I was talking to a neighbor and he is having the same problem. Every leaf is covered with the spdts, and I am afraid of it dying. does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks

[Jim Becker]

If you have been getting a lot of rain, it is probably a mold or fungus.

Take a sample leaf to your nearest ag extension office. They have probably been looking at examples for weeks and will be able to tell you what the problem is and how to fix it.

The same looking symptom may indicate a different problem in different parts of the country.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Fter doign some research, it appears to be cedar-apple rust. Caused by an orange colored (in spring, turning brown later in season) fungus with tentacles tha tgrows on red cedar trees.. Apparently pretty dificult to control in an are alike ours that has a lot of cedars. For more info go to
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/di ... omcar.html

[Little Indy]

John,

There are certain varieties (most of them older) that handle cedar rust quite well. I will be planting several in the fall. After I do my homework I will eMail the results.

Richard

[Hengy]

We get similar spots on our crabapple leaves in the late spring early summer when it is wet in the spring. Doesn't kill the tree, but does sometimes cause the leaves to drop early.

I have been told that it is important to make sure that you rake up all the leaves from under the tree and dispose of them. In other words, DON'T mulch them into the grass under the tree. That just serves to increase the reinfestation of the mold the next year...

Good luck!

Mike in La Crosse, WI