A: Local ordinances (laws) specify that YOU, the owner, are responsible for controlling destructive pests and diseases of fruit trees on your property.
This is true whether you plant the tree yourself, or buy property with fruit trees already on it. Although ordinances apply to all types of fruit trees, apple trees present one of the worst problems.

A: The tree can harbor insects and diseases. If not properly controlled, these pests can move to a neighbor's backyard tree or travel great distances to infest commercial orchards where they can cause serious economic damage.

A: Many pests and diseases attack apple trees, but the homeowner normally needs to be concerned with Codling Moth and San Jose Scale.

A: The female codling moth can layover 100 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs are laid singly on foliage near apples or directly on apples as the female moth
travels through the orchard. The worms that hatch from the eggs eat into the fruit, destroying it. San Jose scale is a serious parasite of apple, attacking both the fruit and wood of the tree.

Fruit from infested orchards is denied access to foreign markets due to a concern of pest introduction to that country. Additional cover sprays cost growers and backyard tree owners additional time and money. These additional sprays also eliminate growers from more lucrative markets because the marketplace is very concerned about the number of cover sprays used on apples. When the fruit is eliminated from markets, lower prices for apples impact the fruit industry, affecting the economic well-being of our communities. The fruit growers are losing control products through pest resistance and the high cost of pesticide re-registration.

A: The only sure way to control codling moth and San Jose scale on your backyard tree is to spray with insecticides. This is what commercial growers
do. Normally, a homeowner would have to apply 1 early spray for San Jose scale and 3 to 8 cover sprays for codling moth , depending on what control products are used. Remember, a full-grown apple tree may be 15 to 20 feet tall! It takes special equipment to spray a tree of this size. When it is small, it can be covered with a hand sprayer available at nurseries or garden supply stores, but larger trees require high-pressure sprayers. For larger trees, you can have a local reputable spray service provide pest control at a reasonable price.

A: If a commercial grower suspects that your tree is infested with codling moth , that grower can lodge a complaint with the local Horticultural Pest and Disease Boards. These boards, set up in each county in Washington, are responsible for handling complaints and eliminating infestations. A board representative will contact you about your tree.

If you are not controlling codling moth or San Jose scale , the representative will give you instructions on how to do so, and will follow up to make sure that you have complied. If you still do nothing, the board will have a commercial pesticide applicator come in and spray the tree, and charge you for it. If you refuse to pay the bill, a lien will be placed against your property taxes to ensure payment.

A: You have two options. The fIrst option is to start spraying on a regular schedule for codling moth and San Jose scale . You can obtain information on pesticides and timing of sprays to control these pests from your local WSU Cooperative Extension office at 315 Palouse St., Wenatchee, WA 98801. Phone: 664- 5540. The second option is to cut the tree down, and buy your apples from fruit stands or grocery stores. Think carefully about the cost of buying fruit versus the cost of 4- 8 pesticide sprays every year, plus the time and effort to put them on.

A: Decide whether you want to accept all the responsibility for taking care of the tree every year. Are you ready to do the pruning, spraying, and harvesting? Are you willing to buy special spray equipment, or to have a commercial pesticide applicator spray several times per season? Do you want to have pesticides sprayed regularly around your home, where they may come into contact with pets or children? Are you prepared to control pests or have the tree removed? Do you eat enough apples during the year to make having an apple tree worthwhile?