Question
I have a 40 year old golden delicious apple tree up to two years ago lots of fruit. Last year and this has grey moldy spots on the trunk and limbs and white fuzz at the tips and leaves. causing the leaves to fall and bearing the limbs. I tried to spray with soap and blight spray but, it is higher than the two story house and not getting any better Should I cut it down and start all over??
Sara
San Francisco
Answer
What you describe on the bark of the tree and tips of branches is lichen. This will not kill the tree but usually invades very old bark. The best way to control this fungi/algae symbiosis is to spray the bark of the tree with Kop R Spray. This spray will also control powdery mildew which creates a white coating on leaves and causes them to turn brown and die. When powdery mildew is really prevalent, there will be much leaf drop. Less leaves means less energy to carry and bear fruits. I would recommend possibly having the tree reduced in height. It is advisable to begin spraying now, again in February and once again when the flower buds begin to swell. I would give your older tree the benefit of the doubt for a couple more years. Consider that 2006 was the wettest year on record and a horrible fruit production year and last year was very very dry, equally stressful.
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