 |
| Those white blurs are falling snowflakes. |
We have had rain for the past three days. The moisture was welcomed, but not what accompanied the raindrops…cooler temperatures and snowflakes. Yes, snowflakes. In March, we had balmy summer temperatures; and now, at the end of April, we are having winter-like weather. Go figure…
 |
| Oranges...not! |
Looking out at the falling snow; but, thankfully not sticking, I noticed our nearby eastern red cedar trees covered with, not oranges, but cedar-apple rust - a fungus with two hosts; the eastern red cedar tree and the apple tree.
This disease looks so pretty on the cedars, but it is not as pretty on apple trees whose leaves become spotted; and at times, display a subtle orange growth - not as flamboyant as that found on the cedars.
A recommendation to interrupt the cycle is to remove all cedars within a radius of about one to two miles of the apple trees. To affect complete control, all cedars need to be removed within a 4 to 5 mile radius; so, not going to happen. My apples are planted within feet of these eastern cedars. I will have infected apple trees.
 |
| Apple (foreground), cedar (background) in close proximity |
I hazard to guess how many cedars are growing within the one to two mile radius….hundreds, thousands; and, not all on our property. Eastern red cedar removal is not a possibility.
Our only option is to enjoy the beautiful bright orange fungus on the cedars, and to tolerate the less than perfect (as in cosmetic appeal) apple crop. Taste is not affected.
No comments:
Post a Comment