question about apple tree

In PA we have several apple trees,One has a nice yellow apple,I have pruned it several years ,I want to try spraying this year,When do I spray the first spray, and is it the dormant oil spray? Forgive me.I know very little about it,but I want to give it a try,I would like to spray as miminum as possible,but I have not sprayed at all and the apples arent usable.What is the least times I could spray and get some halfway decent apples?

I'd do some Googling to understand apple trees. I have half a dozen. The best apple is the Harralson and Haralred. You need double the trees because they eventually become an every other year producer.
First spray in late March around the base of the tree to kill cedar rust bacteria. Then every 10 days. No spray when the blossomd are on. Save the bees. Last one can be within 15 days of harvest. There are several "all purpose sprays available now.

I've had pretty good success with an "all purpose" spray every 10 days after the blossoms fall. Maybe a few skin blemishes, but good usable apples.

Larry,
See the link. You can probably find something like it from U of PA.

I have three apple trees and they take a lot of spraying if you want good apples in my part of the world.
It can be a lot of fun if you take the time.

Good luck,

Art
Lebanon, IN
Apple Inf.

What we've done Larry was:
1)Dormant oil before leaf buds open
2)Delayed dormant spray applied from green tip to 1/2"bud growth, but NOT when there's more than 1/2" green bud growth.
3)All purpose spray AFTER petal drop
This was the minimum we did and had good results....

Gotta keep on them with the spray, or the bugs will get them. 2 years ago my apple trees were over flowing with apples. Last year, I might have gotten 2 plastic grocery bags full off 5 trees. Last year the blossoms were opened and then it froze, so it killed most of them off.

I agree, don't spray when the blossoms are open to save the bees. I spray them as soon as they show signs of life in the spring, and from then on out it's pretty much every 10 days or so till 3 weeks before it's ready. Be sure to read your label, as the stuff I use says not to spray within 21 days of picking/eating.

I got a late start pruning my trees this year, so I got 3 of my 10 fruit trees done this last weekend and I have the other 7, plus my inlaws 1 and a couple fruit trees at my parents house to do yet. You want to do them in the winter so there isn't pressure from deseases and bugs when they're freshly cut. I'm hoping this weekend I can finish up my pruning.

One tree was buried in a drift this year, so the rabbits tried to help me out... Thinking I may have to get a trap next year and dispatch a few rabbits....



Donovan from Wisconsin

ray has it pretty much right, but one more spray after the fruit sets...