I want to spray apple trees and I want to know when to do it and what to use?

Answer 1

In early spring, while fruit trees and shrubs are still dormant (before the buds begin to open), many farmers (like my dad who's run an apple orchard for 32 years) and gardeners spray what is called a “dormant oil” on the bark and buds of their trees. A very old-fashioned approach to pest control. The purpose of the oily spray is to suffocate overwintering pests, such as aphids and mites. Most commercial products are made of kerosene or other petroleum oil. A much less toxic and more sustainable approach is to use a renewable resource such as vegetable oil.

Homemade dormant oil:
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoon liquid soap (lemon scented works best)
1 gallon water

Easy Directions:
Combine the soap and oil and stir to blend thoroughly. Add the water a bit at a time, stirring as you go (water and oil don’t really emulsify; the soap helps the process). Pour the mixture into a clean garden spray container. Spray a coat of the mixture over the entire bark of a tree. Shake the container frequently as you are spraying.

Makes 1 gallon, enough for one fruit tree.


For pests later in the season (after leaves have come out) whenever you notice pests (like aphids) present, and should be applied to fruit trees about every 2 weeks from the time they set fruit until the end of summer to prevent worms. Good commercially available products are Diazinon and Seven.

Soap has been used for centuries as an all-purpose pesticide. It disrupts insects’ cell membranes, and kills pests by dehydration. The key is not to use too much soap, or you’ll also kill the vegetation near the pests. If you follow the proportions of soap to water in the Soap Spray recipe, below, the vegetation should be fine.

Note: Buy a liquid soap and not a detergent. Health food stores have liquid soaps, such as Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soaps. Lemon scented liquid dish soap will also work great. The lemon scent repells insects.

Homemade Insecticidal Soap Spray:
1 to 2 tablespoons liquid soap (lemon scented is best)
1 quart water

Combine ingredients in a bucket, mix, then transfer to a spray bottle as needed.

If you notice scab or mildew, sulfer works well for those problems.

Answer 2

Spray For Apple Trees

Answer 3

Of course there are commercial sprays around at the garden centers.

However, those raising fruit trees here in Michigan, use wettable sulfur spray early in the spring as soon as the day temps reach near 70. It is a rather inexpensive product that does well. One can use that wetable sulfur up time when it gets into the 90's. Then do not use it as it will burn the leaves. At that time switch to a commercial Fruit and Vegitable spray from your local garden center.

Sulfur will control almost all scab, worm, and nearly all diseases in fruit trees and it is a rather environmentally friendly product as it rapidly degrades to a harmless substance.

We dont use any oils on our trees. You can seal off the fruit producing buds with those. Particulary not any organic vegitable oils, those will oxidize and wash away. You can take ordinary Vlock dormant oil and brush the trunk trees to avoid those boring pests but you must repeat that or it will be ineffect on a monthly basis.

Answer 4

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I want to spray apple trees and I want to know when to do it and what to use?