Special Site issues that are Often Overlooked
Diseases and insects that infect or inhabit large old fruit trees that are growing close to or over arching newly planted trees. Diseases and insects spread out ward from these trees. the new trees you plant will be disease and insect free to start with and the goal should be to keep them that wasy fort as long as possible.
Rodents and other vertebrate problem critters. A huge majority of the commercial and home orchardists that I have worked with over the last 50 years drastically under estimate the number of critters that will show up and the amount of damage they can do. Wilting trees sometimes look like they have been in a pencil sharpener when pulled our of the soil. The roots are all gone into vole stomachs.
Mice and Voles
Rabbits
Deer and relations
Isolation is a gift
Codling Moth is a prime example, but this also applies to most insects and diseases that infest and infect fruit trees.
If you live is a rural area with few or no apple and pear trees near by (the further away the better), you may escape Codling Moth damage to your fruit for several years. Eventually they will find you.
Rodents Big and Small
Mice, rabbits and the like
Deer family
Bacterial and fungal diseases that cause cankers and blight of the trees are of most concern. Some of these are:
Bacterial canker of cherries, plums, apricots, nectarines, almonds and peaches
Fire Blight of Pear and Apple trees (bacterial)
European Apple Canker (fungal)
prevelence of diseases or insects that are very difficult to control or prevent damaging your trees or crops. examples are:
Fire Blight of Pear and Apple trees
Disease Issues
Big old trees
Major diseases
Isolation benefit
Planting apples after apples
Fire Blight of Pear and Apple trees
This devastating and very contagious disease is present in most apple and pear growing regions of the world, except Australia. It originated in North East USA, possibly in Hawthorn It is now in New Zealand, Japan, Bermuda and Europe.
rosaceous plants
