Like the title says …sorry, If i’m a nuisance please say so. This is my first year ever growing fruit and Nut trees so i guess I’m just a little paranoid. I have the ANNA Apple i planted just this spring in April. It was pretty nice size already when I bought it. It is growing this kind of mossy stuff on it but it has always been then since I bought it. Does it appear to be something of concern I should treat? Or is this just normal on ANNA Apple?..Thanks
Wow, that is quite the case of moss/lichen for such a young tree. Where are you located?
If you don’t like it, you can probably put an end to its days by spraying it with a copper soap. Lichens are quite sensitive, and I bet copper soap would nuke it. Sulfur might also kill it, as lichens tend to be sensitive to pollution and sulfur oxidizes (sulfur dioxide) to what is essentially air pollution over time.
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Im in Extreme North Florida. I guess i can just get that at Home Depot? Monticello area to ne exact. Thnx
Asking questions is a big part of this forum so do so when you want to. I don’t have any help to offer during the growing season but during the dormant period I would use an oil/copper. Some of the other members might have a solution for when the plant is in leaf.
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We sit hear posting pictures of single fruit. And you think asking an actual question is being a nuisance.
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There is no such thing as a nuisance when asking a question related to growing fruit This is what this community thrives on.
Just consider that the person who answers also learns from formulating the answer.
Many times the mere act of thinking about an answer for a question about one problem triggers a thought that leads to solving another problem .
And often it triggers a wandering thought that leads to new ways of looking at or solving that one or other problems.
So don’t be afraid to ask. We all learn something and every day you learn something new is a good day.
Mike
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All of my dogwoods suffer a similar lichen issue. Sadly it saps the strength from them causing their flowers to not put up much of a show. I’m in New Jersey by the Atlantic coast.
@dutch-s, we have similar climates albeit your winters might be a little cooler, but I expect our humidity levels are about the same…I have one tree a gala with a bit of lichen but nothing like that. From the pictures it doesn’t appear to be negatively impacting the tree. That aside, as far as the Anna’s go,I haven’t had any luck with them, after 3 failures I gave up.
What other apple trees are you growing out there?
I don’t have experience with that growth but I’m wondering if it can be removed with a soft brush without damaging the bark.
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I have a pink lady and a Stark Delicious. I bought all but two of my trees and plants from Stark Bros. Hence the Stark name. I believe? Not sure but it seems coming from Stark bros. That would be where thw name was from. The lady and delicious look great so far but they are far less mature than the Anna…
Are subterranean waters close to the soil level in your location? The lichen infestation may signal wet roots. I know, it is not much you can do for this for that tree, but for new planting you may consider hills. Lichen could be killed by copper and you can’t spray copper now, but I would probably try to remove and discard as much lichen tissue as possible mechanically(using tarp under the tree to collect and discard lichen parts and to be careful not to wound the bark) , after that I would also try to wipe the branches with copper solution using sponge to avoid leaves contact.
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nice to hear that the pink lady is doing well for you. I’m trying to grow one from seedling.
I hate to admit this galina but I bought the tree that way. So much of our plants and trees here have moss on them I just thought it was normal. After reading more it appears it’s not. The tree did get a dozen or so small blooms a few weeks ago but they were gone in a day. I do believe though after the suggestions from the cool folks in this forum I think I am going to go with the sponge idea. Maybe one with the two sided one soft one a little rough and see which does well without damage. Then the copper rub seems non invasive. I’ve never bought any plant treatments. I guess I can get it in any Lawn and Garden supply place? Maybe Rural King? Home Depot? Thnx
I have no idea but maybe someone can answer, I see some trees with the trunk painted white? could this be something dutch-s could do to prevent this in the furture?
You can try local stores, but your best bet is online, in the local stores they mostly carrying staff like multi-function sprays, and you need just copper in liquid form. Here is Amazon link for what you can use, check if they have it in your local stores.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=copper+fungicide
And @figerama is correct, painting the trunk(after clean up) should make the issue lighter. .
Thank you much guys…or gals? …I will start on this right away. I don’t live where my trees are full time yet so I am really trying to take special care. I water twice a week and am there on the weekends right now…
Got it. I got the Bonide brand. That was cool. I signed up the 30 prime free trial. It will be here Friday and they gave me a 50 dollar Amazon card. So it got free and 19 dollars on a gift card. I figured it doesn’t go bad so I got 2…
I think so, good luck!
If it is a lichen on your tree, removal is not necessary. The lichen is not hurting your tree.
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