Agriculture: Apricot Pest Management Guidelines

Dormancy/Delayed-Dormancy

This year-round program covers the major pests of apricot in California.

Dormancy/Delayed-dormancy (leaf fall to bud swell)

What should you be doing during this time?

Remove and destroy all mummy fruit (using soil cultivation) to reduce the amount of brown rot inoculum in the orchard.

If shot hole disease is a concern and the dormant season has been rainy, treat according to the Pest Management Guidelines.

If mites, scales, or aphids have been a problem in the past:

  • Examine several spurs randomly throughout the orchard and map out areas of concern for monitoring at bloom.
  • Apply an oil spray for European fruit lecanium, brown mite, European red mite, or San Jose scale according to the Pest Management Guidelines.

Look for pocket gopher mounds in areas where they are active. Manage according to the Pest Management Guidelines.

Treat peach twig borer with an environmentally sound material or delay treatment until bloom.

Other pests you may see:

  • Peachtree borer
  • Fruittree leafroller egg masses
  • Western tussock moth egg masses and pupal cases (in coastal orchards)

Survey weeds in October and November after first rains.

  • Complete a late-fall weed survey form.
  • Manage weeds in and between tree rows with herbicides or mechanically according to the Pest Management Guidelines.
Text Updated: 10/04
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