Serviceberry & Juniper Rust?

Question: Last summer we planted 2 Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry trees on the edges of our back yard, with 5 Blue Arrow Juniper in between. Yesterday I noticed that our serviceberries all have (after some googling, what I believe to be) rust on the leaves and berries. After further research, I found a few sources that said I should not plant juniper anywhere near serviceberry or apple trees, as the two trees will just pass the fungus back and forth (we also have 2 crabapple trees on our property but neither seem to have any issues yet). What are my options??? Will this kill my serviceberries? I have read a lot of different things - to use fungicide, to not use fungicide, that it will kill my trees, that it won't kill my trees. That you can remove the fungus by trimming affected branches (all of our serviceberry leaves have spots so I don't think that would do it?). I don't know what is the right thing.
This area in our yard is very wet - it's a drainage easement during heavy rains it would become a river which is why we did large river rock.

responder: Evelyn Locke, MN Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor, Volunteer    Replied June 24, 2024, 8:11 PM EDT
response: How to manage cedar serviceberry rust. https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/cedar-apple-rust  Please check out a previous reply to a similar question, that of what to do about the rust. Pruning it out isn’t an option this year.  Unfortunately, juniper is an alternate host.Rust on Serviceberry #459813  Asked June 05, 2018, 1:36 PM EDT My serviceberries are inedible this year as there is a orange hairy-like fungus on the fruit. The leaves look okay so far. Should I treat with anything? Will it go away next season? I think I read that it is rust from an evergreen. I have two evergreens: a holly and a laurel; both are ok-- sometimes I cut dead parts out of them. Could it have come from them? Several feet away, I just had 15 yo tulip popular die. The last few years it was struggling- a couple of limbs were dead and leaves had black spots on them. It is totally dead now. On the other hand, neighboring maple tree has had black spots on leaves for several years and so far, the leaves all look pretty healthy.Jefferson County Kentucky Expert Response As serviceberry is in the rose family (Rosaceae), it is susceptible to many of the same disease and insect pest problems seen in other species within the family (e.g. apples and pears). This includes rust diseases. Cedar-serviceberry rust affects twigs, buds, fruit and foliage and can disfigure these plant parts or result in witches’ brooms.  Wet spring weather and stresses in the environment have made many serviceberrys susceptible to rust this year. The rust disease does require two hosts, a juniper (eastern red cedar is actually a juniper) which is not damaged by the rust, and a serviceberry, (apple, hawthorn, etc.) where we see affected growth. The holly and laurel do not host this disease. Maples and tulip poplars do not share rust disease. About rust disease: https://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/ppfs-fr-t-05.pdf Nothing can be done this year except good sanitation to minimize the rust spores in the area. Spray next year to control with an appropriate fungicide. Fungicides protect uninfected plant material, they do not cure the plant of disease. Multiple applications of fungicide are necessary for good control.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 24, 2024, 8:24 PM EDT
response: Thank you. The part that I'm not fully comprehending is "fungicides protect uninfected plant material." It looks like my entire tree is infected so does that mean there's nothing I can do? Or does it mean next year's leaves and fruit should at least start out uninfected?  Is this a serious enough problem that I should consider pulling the junipers?  On Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 7:11 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Evelyn Locke, MN Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor, Volunteer    Replied June 24, 2024, 9:40 PM EDT
response: Fungicides can’t  kill fungus because it is inside the plant. Fungicides can can kill fungus before it infects the leaves etc. because the fungus is on the outside.  Next year’s leaves and fruit will start out uninflected. Follow the disease management advice to reduce infection. Also, if next year is not rainy, there maybe less disease. If you were living in the city I would say that there are junipers nearby in other yards so removing the junipers won’t do any good. If there are no junipers for 2 miles you may consider removing yours. The decision to take out the junipers depends a little on how much the rust bothers you. The disease usually doesn’t do lasting harm to service berries. Because nothing needs to be done this year you don’t have to rush to decide what to do about the junipers. Waiting to see how bad it is usually won’t affect tree health. https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/cedar-apple-rust

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 25, 2024, 12:45 PM EDT
response: Ok thank you so much, I appreciate it!  On Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 8:40 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Evelyn Locke, MN Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor, Volunteer    Replied June 25, 2024, 9:07 PM EDT
response: You are welcome and thanks for your note.