[yogijiva]

Hi, can anyone help my scabby apple tree? I'm reluctant to use myclobutanil as it is toxic to my feathered friends, and at the garden centre they just told me it was too late to spray with sulphur. Is it really? surely it's so damn cold the trees can't be doing anything? the other organic advice is to remove the leaves but they blow away anyway, haven't seen any for months. Any advice please! lastly, how about Bordeaux mixture? I usually use it for tomatoes when it's wet - would it work for preventing scab and if so can I put it on now?
many thanks,
Jiva

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

Here is the RHS advice on apple scab:
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=81

Don't know about sulphur or bordeaux mixture.

[Annen]

This website has lots of natural remedies
 http://www.thegardenpantry.co.nz/Recipes-for-natural-sprays.html
I haven't tried them but I will when the time comes.

[Rampant_Weasel]

this will help

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bayer-Systhane-Fungus-Fighter-300ml/dp/B004E4T04K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359462227&sr=8-1

i dont like to use any sprays myself if possible however, organic scab treatment contains copper which is poisnous when built up.which seems a bit irish to me as the point of organic is to not ingest poisnous chemicals?
so i think its better in this case to use the tested treatment.
the other option is to saw off the tree and graft on a resistant variety.
which variety is the current tree?

[jonewer]

Make sure all the leaves are gathered up and disposed off away from the tree.

Last year was very bad for scab so hopefully it wont be so much of a problem if we get a decent summer this year.

which seems a bit irish to me as the point of organic is to not ingest poisnous chemicals?

Gosh, you dont mean the whole 'organic' thing is just one big marketing scam? 

The advice to graft over is OK but it will be a couple of years before you get a harvest. I would help if we knew what variety you are growing.

[Rampant_Weasel]

nope not a scam, but there are lots of ppl using it as the basis to scam ie paying massive prices for organic food at the supermarket.
the only crop i use spray on is sprouts for whitefly and mealy bug -cant keep them away!

[yogijiva]

Thanks all of you...it's a Laxton Superb (thanks, apple day in Brighton) which I just learnt is susceptible to scab. Which explains why it's had it more years than not!
Our site rep (thanks Amos) said giving the tree lots of potash feed would help - either tons of wood ash, or I can buy liquid potash feed to put on around bud-break - no point now as it will wash away. Anyone tried that approach?

[Rampant_Weasel]

your only hope is to spray or plant a more resistant variety.in a bad year, scab can decimate your whole crop cos the leaves arent photo synthesising correctly.trust me ive been through the whole thing myself!