1201
Apples
 Plant apple trees in full sun, in soil that drains well and on a high
point so frost gathering in low pockets will not damage the tree or the
fruit. If apple trees are close to the south or west side of a building,
they can also bloom too early in the spring and be damaged by frost.
Reliable varieties for our area are Cox Orange, Red Delicious, Golden
Delicious, McIntosh, Jonathan, Fameuse, Northwest Greening, Joyce,
Wealthy, Lodi and Haralson.
Select two
different varieties for cross pollination and good fruit production. In
most cases, planting semi-dwarf varieties rather than standard size trees
will allow enough room for at least two different varieties in the
landscape.
The best time to prune apple trees is in early March. Allow sunlight to
penetrate into lower areas of the tree for better fruit production and to
develop strong branch structures.
Insect and disease controls are important for successful fruit
production. Scale insects, mites and aphids winter on trees and can be
suppressed by spraying the tree in late March with dormant oil. Some apple
varieties are susceptible to fireblight which can be somewhat controlled
by spraying with streptomycin during the flowering period.
Wormy apples at harvest time are frustrating. The worms are larvae of
the codling moth and can be controlled by spraying with Permethrin. Begin
spraying about two weeks after the blooms fall and re-spray every two
weeks throughout the growing season. Don't use the insecticide Sevin on
bearing apple trees because it can cause the fruit to fall off.
Removing fallen leaves and apples each fall can also help control
coddling moth. For "Aphids" refer to message number 1402.
For more information, see the following Colorado State Extension fact sheet(s).
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