Late Sanitation for Disease Management
Mike Basedow, Tree Fruit Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Fall has finally arrived, and with it, an excessive number of rainstorms and wet weather. Such weather can greatly favor late season diseases such as fruit rots and lead to the accumulation of inoculum for apple scab and Marssonina leaf blotch. While getting tractors into the orchards is still possible, there are opportunities to do some sanitation and significantly reduce disease pressure for next spring. It may be feasible to capitalize on any available labor that might be there for the harvest. Overall, fungal disease pressure was light in 2022, but there may still be some late season apple scab and Marssonina leaf blotch that could lead to increased disease pressure in the following spring.
Late Sanitation for Disease Management (pdf; 376KB)

Upcoming Events
Rulfs Orchard Vegetable and Berry Field Meeting
August 4, 2026
Peru, NY
Join CCE vegetable specialists Elisabeth Hodgdon and Chuck Bornt for a vegetable and berry field meeting at Rulfs Orchard, in Peru, NY. We'll tour the farm's fields and talk about integrated pest management of sweet corn and cucurbit crops. Then, we'll view a drone demonstration and discuss new technologies for pesticide application and spotted wing drosophila management in berries. Light refreshments will be provided. A rain date will be announced if adverse weather is predicted.
Field Day at Philia Farm
August 6, 2026
Johnstown, NY
Visit organic seed production trials and tour the farm to see small-scale production systems at work, including tarping, cover cropping, and the use of assorted mulches and covers to modify the growing environment.
Capital Region Orchard Twilight Meeting
August 11, 2026
Rexford, NY
Join the ENYCHP and Cornell scientists on August 11 for the Capital Region Orchard Twilight meeting in Saratoga! We will be touring Bowman Orchards and reviewing seasonal recommendations for pests and diseases for apples, plums, and berries, as well discussing crop insurance.
NYSDEC Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits: 1.25 in categories 22, 1A, & 10. Refreshments will be provided.
Free to attend, however we do ask that you register ahead so we know how many people to expect.
