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How Often Do You Need to Spray Insecticides on Fruit Trees?

The codling moth, or Cydia pomonella, can devastate an entire apple crop if left unmanaged. Codling moths can have up to five generations per season, making a regular spray program essential in producing worm-free, blemish-free apples. Other fruit tree pests include pear psylla, plum curculio, aphids and mites. Each variety of fruit tree requires a different spray program.

  1. Apples

    • Apples attract a multitude of insects, including codling moths, apple maggots, mites, aphids, scale, plum curculios and sawflies. Specific spray programs exist for each of these pests and vary widely. For general purpose insect control, use the following schedule each year to ensure an insect-free fruit harvest. Before flower buds open, spray dormant oil. Dormant oil will suffocate any over-wintering insect eggs. After 90 percent of the petals fall from your apple tree, apply an insecticide that is labeled as safe for fruit trees. Re-apply 7 to 10 days later. This second insecticide application is the key to controlling codling moths. Apply insecticide every 14 days through August.

    Pears

    • Pears suffer from many fewer pests than apples do. Pear psylla and plum curculio are the two primary pests to control. As buds begin to swell in the spring, spray dormant oil. This is especially important in controlling pear psylla. Apply a second application of dormant oil 7 to 10 days later. Never spray when the blossoms are open; you do not want to hurt pollinating insects. After the petals fall, apply an insecticide and repeat application every 14 days through August.

    Cherries

    • Cherries are often infested with cherry fruit flies. Other insects that can become pests include plum curculio, aphids and scale. As with apples and pears, apply dormant oil before the buds break in spring and apply an insecticide after the petals fall. The rest of the season's spray program will depend upon shuck split, or when the newly pollinated ovary begins to expand and bursts the papery shuck that covers it. Spray with an insecticide after shuck split, then every 10 to 14 days until harvest.

    Peaches, Apricots and Plums

    • Peaches, apricots and plums can all become infested with oriental fruit moths, plum curculio, mites and stink bugs. Before buds swell in the spring, apply dormant oil. After the petals fall, apply an insecticide. Ten days after shuck fall, re-apply and continue every 10 to 14 days until one to two weeks before harvest.

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