Best treatment program for Peaches and Apples

[SpudDaddy]

I started growing fruit trees about 15 years ago and it was a disaster. Started with 3 cherry trees from Gurneys that all died after 2 to 4 years and apple trees that did nothing. About 5 years ago bought a peach tree from Lowes (it came from Dave Wilson) and it grew and finally produced peaches. I was hooked and over the last 3 years have bought about 7 or 8 peach trees with different varieties, With the exception of one tree I have had no blights/fungus etc. other than Japanese Beetle problems.

For the peaches I have read that it is good to use a Copper 2 to 3 treatments during the dormant stage and then use a fungicide starting with budding. Is this correct? What I the right mixture per gallon for the copper and what fungicide, mixture and frequency of application do people recommend?

Same question for Apple Trees, I have bought better varieties but Apple Cedar Rust is a bad problem where I live - Piedmont area, Virginia.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[ltilton]

I use Myclobutanil against cedar apple rust - it takes multiple applications in the spring, when the weather is cool and wet - if you can find a cedar tree with the orange galls, you spray when the galls are enlarged

As for copper, there are different products, you’ll need to use the directions on the label

[Moley]

Low Impact Spray Schedule (old version)

I have been promising for some time to type up a draft of the “low impact” spray schedule I use. Here it is, drafty but it will be refined. My rough guide for low impact is no wide-spectrum poisons. Spinosad is about as broad a poison that I use. I don’t personally draw the line at organic vs not, but this schedule is mostly organic and I will suggest some substitutions if you want to be 100% organic. If you want to have a philosophical debate over what to (not) spray, please put it on a dif…

[SpudDaddy]

Thanks everyone for the good feedback!