Silver tip and green tip should soon be observed in apple orchards throughout NC and green tissue may already be showing in some warmer production regions of the state. Given the importance of late silver/green tip applications for canker blight management, this week would be a good time to de-winterize your sprayers and get them calibrated. For further information on airblast calibration, check out the 2019 SE Orchard Management Guide, or the New England Tree Fruit Management Guide.

The primary goal of disease management programs at late silver tip and early green tip in apple is to protect against fire blight cankers that will begin to ooze later in the season (likely not before pink bud or bloom). A full rate (the higher rate on the label) of a fixed copper (e.g. Kocide 3000, COCS, Badge + several others) should be applied no later than green tip for canker blight management. Delaying applications of copper until 1/2″ green tip or beyond will increase the risk of chemical damage to developing tissue.

Coppers that are “fixed” have are more insoluble in water than soluble coppers (e.g. copper sulfate), which means that they should persist on leaf tissue longer during a rain event. With fixed coppers, copper ions, the toxic component of copper fungicides, will slowly be released during wetting events which is advantageous when you consider the time period between green tip and pink/bloom may be greater than 30 days. When applying copper at late silver/green tip, consider the following:

• Always follow the label-It’s the law.
• Choose spray adjuvants wisely (or do not use them at all). Penetrating adjuvants or those that cause excessive wetting can enhance the penetration of copper into leaf tissue (which is where you don’t want it to be).
• Check the pH of your spray solution. Low pH will result in coppers becoming more soluble and thus could reduce the residual activity of the fungicide and enhance the potential for phytotoxicity.
• The addition of hydrated lime can raise the pH of spray solutions, and can also assist in “fixing” more soluble coppers. Check with your chemical sales rep to determine if you should add hydrated lime to your copper application.
• Avoid applying copper under slow drying conditions.
• Again-Do not apply high rates of copper after green tip!

In addition to applying copper for canker blight management, copper is also applied at the green tip stage to manage early apple scab infections. Below is a list of example coppers and rates of these coppers registered for management at the silver tip/green tip stage. As always, read the label before application!