Pests and Disease

Is Your Fruit Tree Looking Weird? 

Do you have a tree that’s seen better days? Is it producing little or no fruit, or is the fruit looking rough for wear? If your fruit tree exhibits any of the following symptoms, there’s a good chance your tree is suffering from a disease or pest infestation:

• Bugs on tree leaves or branches (beetles, ants, aphids, mites, etc.)
• Yellow or orange coloured spots on the leaves
• Twigs or branches are swollen, black, and twisted
• Tree leaves are covered in small dark coloured spots, which turn into holes
• Dark, brown spots on fruit that harden into scabs
• Fruit and leaves appear to be rotting or decomposing on branches
• Powdery mildew on fruit or leaves
• Leaves are dried out, and have turned black or brown; withering fruit 
• Branches or bark are oozing amber-coloured sappy liquid
• Cherries are filled with maggots 

If your tree is exhibiting any of these symptoms, we can help you identify what’s going on and recommend treatment.

How to Care for Diseased Trees

When it comes to fruit trees, prevention is the best form of care. As Susan says, “the truth is that when you are growing fruit trees without pesticides, it’s easier to prevent pest and disease problems than to cure these problems once they have already spread all over your tree and other trees in your neighbourhood.”

Here are a few simple tips that can help you tackle pest and disease problems when the arise:

• Monitor your trees every week and look for changes or problems.
• If you see a problem, research it online or talk about it with your local expert or mentor. Send us a picture of your tree and we’re happy to help identify what’s wrong with it.
• Once you have identified the problem, act quickly to implement a solution. Pest and disease problems can spread quickly both within the tree and other trees nearby.
• Don’t be scared to find out what the problem is! Sometimes the solution can be as easy as just pruning a diseased branch off a tree (and carefully disposing of it). 
• Consider taking a workshop on fruit tree pests and disease while your tree is still young and healthy. You’ll learn what problems to look for and how to deal with them when they arise.

Without experience in fruit tree care, it can be difficult to correctly identify common diseases and pests and select the right remedy. If you’re not up for the learning curve but you suspect your tree is in need of treatment, reach out to us and we’re happy to direct you to someone who can get your tree back to tip top shape.

• Have a fruit tree? Register it now.
• Join our Picking Team.