Tree Diseases: Common Crabapple Diseases to Look For

Crabapple trees are most known for their colorful blooms and are a great addition to any home or property. Their flowering plants are also birds and bee’s favorite as they help pollinate and provide great food source. Most blooming Crabapple trees are resistant to disease, but wondering what diseases affect crabapple trees? Here are three common Crabapple diseases to look for.

Crabapple Diseases 

Apple Scab is a Crabapple disease that is most active during cool and wet weather conditions in spring and early summer. Apple Scab will generally not kill the tree, but can destroy the density and beauty of the leaf foliage. Apple Scab Crabapple disease will result in defoliation of the tree. When this occurs for several years in a row, the tree may become weak, allowing other secondary pests such as Aphids and Japanese Beetles to become established. To control Apple Scab, fungicide sprays should be applied in early spring at bud break to help prevent the problem. Spring-Green can apply root feeding to the trees affected to help with additional nutrients for a healthier plant. 

Cedar Apple Rusts or Cedar Rusts appear during cool and wet springs and contaminates fruit, leaves and twigs of apple and crabapple trees. This fungal Crabapple disease results in orange yellow spots on leaves that progressively grow in size. Treatment for Cedar Apple Rusts include a minimum of three fungicide spray applications between late August and late October. On Junipers, you can carefully remove any galls or cankers that are formed on the leaves to minimize infection and reduce spreading of the disease to other nearby trees. 

Botryosphaeria Canker result in black or brown fungal cankers in leaves, and branches affected by the cankers will die off. Pruning the affected branches is a good way to avoid this Crabapple disease from spreading. It's alos important to irrigate the tree during hot summer months. If your trees are showing symptoms or signs of common Crabapple diseases, contact your neighborhood lawn care professional at Spring-Green. We would be happy to inspect and provide the best recommendation to control and prevent diseases on Crabapple trees. 

Our 2-Step Tree Program can nourish and protect your trees and shrubs with nutrients and fertilization.