Bob from Brooklyn, Michigan writes
The buds on my apple, cherry, and pear trees are swelling and getting ready to open, can I safely spray the trees or do i have to wait until the blossoms fall off? Also, can I use this on my blackberry bushes and grape vines?
Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide Concentrate is labeled to treat apples, pears, cherries and blackberries for certain types of diseases and have differnt application times depending on the fruit. The mix rate is 0.5 fl oz to 2.0 fl oz of this product with 1 gallon of water and is most effective when treatments begin 2 weeks before disease normally appears or when there is an expected extended time of wet weather. For apples and pears to treat Anthracnose, Cedar Apple Rust, Fireblight, Scab, Sooty Blotch, Flyspeck, or Quince Rust - the product label states to apply this product in the dormant period, during bloom, or in-season cover spray applications to treat for Fireblight. It adivses do NOT exceed one application during the fall, (late dormant period) Other precautions when using on apples and pears is to NOT exceed one application between silver tip and green tip growth stages. This may cause russeting of susceptible apple varieties. Do not exceed 1 gallon of product per 100 gallons of water and for apples and pears, you can repeat application every 7-10 days if necessary. For CHERRIES Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide Concentrate will treat Bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae), Brown rot blossom blight, leaf and fruit spot, Bacterial leaf spot. Treaing Bacterial canker - Apply as a dormant spray as buds begin to swell, repeating at the bud burst stage, and weekly thereafter as needed, up to six sprays. In the fall spray again at 10 and 80% leaf fall. Treating brown rot blossom blight apply full cover spray at delayed dormant (bud swell), popcorn, full bloom and petal fall stages. During wet weather additional bloom sprays may be necessary. Repeat application every 7-10 days as necessary. Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide Concentrate is labeled to treat for Blackberries for Gray mold (Botrytis), Mucor fruit rot, Rhizopus fruit rot. Treatment recommendations are to apply at the start of flowering and continue every 7 to 10 days until harvest. Grape Ivy is also listed on the product label and will help treat anthracnose leaf and fruit spot, Botrytis blight, Downy mildew, Powdery mildew, Rhizoctonia blight. Please refer to page 2 of the product label for application instructions.
Answer last updated on: 04/26/2018
