I like to do a fall spray with oil and lime-sulfur to kill fungal spores that try to overwinter in the bark. It will also kill mite eggs. Lime-sulfur I use mostly on my grapes in the spring. As it works so well to keep them fungus free. Even if already infected the infection clears up. What happened when I first used it. Good stuff! Organic too.
Copper and sulfur come with their own set of problems. I’m torn between adding copper to the soil and the chemical issues with Chloro. At least you don’t have to worry about the latter building up in your soil or making it too acid as sulfur can.
I use some copper but never sulfur. Oil is more affective against mites when they are not in their resting form, sometime after half inch green in apples. I am always trying to reduce maintenance while assuring the same control. I’m overwhelmed with all the management I have to do.
@alan Where did you see chlorothalonil contains sulfur? I am curious since the chemical structure of chlorothalonil doesn’t contain a sulfur atom. Is the sulfur or sulfur compound something that is added to the formulation? I think the mechanism of action for chlorothalonil is similar to captan is that what you mean?
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I use copper once a year, so feel it’s not adding much to the soil. I actually add sulfur to much of my soil. With so many non gardening projects this year I have felt overwhelmed for the last 3 months. I’m finally getting it under control.
The Spice Zee Nectaplum might be particularly susceptible to PLC.I have a few Peach/Nectarine trees,which all get the same treatment for control.
While the others may have a few leaves infected,Spice Zee usually has many more.
I know nothing of the chemical structure of chloro, but Cornell suggested it was incompatible with oil and I thought it was a problem related to sulfur as is the case with Captan. My memory says they alluded to the sulfur issue, but my memory is highly suspect.
Ok thanks Alan. I use a fair amount of chlorothalonil on cherries but don’t normally mix it with oil.
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