For trees that are susceptible and retention of leaves is the goal, this would require applying fungicides at the correct time. This works well if you have a crabapple like the one in my backyard, where the loss of leaves was not so noticeable and it did not outweigh the beauty of the spring flowers. Of course one way to manage it is to do nothing. Does it occur every year? If it does occur every year, how serious is the impact? Does the tree retain most of its leaves?
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What to do about apple scabĪ few questions need to be considered when deciding how to manage this leaf spot disease. Sitting in the back corner of the property it was easy to overlook the lack of leaves during the summer. It survived the impact of apple scab for over 50 years. A tree in my old backyard in Livonia would lose nearly all of its leaves during the summer, but still continued to produce beautiful flowers every spring. This weakens the tree and reduces its vigor and ability to overcome environmental stresses. Susceptible trees are often nearly without leaves by August, reducing the plant’s ability to produce and store energy for future growth. Fruit infected by apple scab develops raised scab-like lesions and severely infected fruit will drop from the tree.Ĭrabapple varieties can vary greatly in their susceptibility to apple scab ( Venturai inaequalis). Heavy disease pressure leads to premature leaf drop. Damaged leaves become curled and yellowish with lesions, eventually turning brown. This primary infection produces olive colored spots on leaves.Īs the fungus grows on the leaves, new spores are produced starting a secondary infection of leaves and fruit. Spores from these old leaves are carried on air currents to new developing leaves. Scab-infected leaves from the previous season, left on the ground around the tree are the source of fungal spores that can infect the crabapple the next spring.
Lengthy periods of rain this past May provided conditions for apple scab spores to develop. The fungus, Venturia inaequalis, known as apple scab, is a leaf spot disease that can cause serious leaf drop on susceptible crabapple trees. Why are my crabapples looking so bad? This question has been asked repeatedly by folks contacting the Michigan State University Extension Lawn and Garden Hotline this summer.
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