Trees add a great deal of value to your home. Not only do they add color, texture, shade, and energy-efficiency in some cases, but some trees can also provide your family with fruit. If you are a lucky homeowner with one more apple trees in your yard, knowing how to care for them is key. While durable, apple trees can develop diseases that wreak havoc on their look, growth, and bearing of fruit. Here are a few common diseases that can affect your apple tree.

Apple Scab

Apple scab is one of the most common diseases that can harm your apple tree.

Like the name suggests, the disease causes actual scabs on the apples, but it mostly develops on the underside of the tree's leaves first. The growths are usually brown or dark green in color and will be circular in shape.

Apple scab is caused by a fungus, which can spread quickly throughout the tree. The damage can be so severe, the leaves will wilt and die while the apples are infected to the point of being completely brown and inedible.

Unfortunately, treating apple scab one it has infected your tree is difficult. Pruning off any leaves, fruit, and limbs that display the scabs is important. Applying a fungicide to the tree is also necessary. If you do not notice any improvement, removing the tree is essential to prevent the fungus from spreading to other trees and plants.

Preventing apple scab is possible, fortunately. Excess moisture can increase the risk of the fungal growth, so make sure your tree is planted in well-drained soil. It should also receive sufficient sunlight.

In periods of heavy rain or if your tree is planted in a shady area, consider applying a chemical fungicide to the tree every 10 to 14 days to prevent apple scab.

Cork Spot

Although not as common as apple scab, cork spot is another disease that can harm your apple trees. Signs of this disease include small dimples on the apple skin that spread across the entire apple, which causes the fruit to appear corky and soft. The apples will be unappealing, but they are still edible.

Soil with a low pH level or a calcium deficiency are usually the causes of cork spot. Consider having your soil tested to determine what it requires for your apple tree to grow. You may need to add lime to the soil to restore the tree back to health.

Apple scab and cork spot affect the look, healthy, and lifespan of apple trees. This guide will help you understand these common diseases to ensure your apple trees receive proper treatment. To learn more, contact a tree service like Hagstrom & Sons Tree Service.