Please Tell Me This is Harmless

[Nyboy]

Bad photos I need new camera,

crabapple tree, tree has had apple ceder rust.

 

[Nyboy]

Plan on spraying with dormant oil, worried about blight.

 

[Beekissed]

I thought all old apple trees had that...was watching one arborist who said that was normal and indicated a healthy tree, while others say it's harmless but does indicate an underlying problem in the tree's health.

They all agree it's worthless to try and remove it, but that the tree may need more nutrition, pruning to let in light or more consistent water.

 

[Nyboy]

About 15 years old never pruned or fertilized. Gets plenty of water automatic sprinklers. Cloud of red flowers early spring favorite tree.

 

[catjac1975]

It could use a little pruning after bloom.Are you worried about those plants growing on it? They can get over grown and kill branches. Spray it with some lime. You can buy it in a liquid form.I call it moss but do not know if that is really what it is.

 

[Nyboy]

My father use to put powered lime on his lawn

 

[so lucky]

It's just a lichen. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[catjac1975]

These lichens have killed entire branches on my peach trees.

 

[baymule]

It may indicate a mineral imbalance in your soil. Look up sea minerals. I would do it for you, but my computer/internet is not cooperating. I would do this first, treating the moss is just a symptom of the problem.

 

[so lucky]

Well, now that I think about it, you do see lichens on dead or dying wood. Hmmm....