Pest Management Several insect pests usually require control even on disease resistant apple trees. Apple maggot is the other major pest problem, and usually lays its eggs in apples from mid July to mid August. Two properly timed insecticide sprays will also control apple maggot. If you decide to use pesticides on your fruit trees, it's important to choose an insecticide which is least toxic to people, pets, and helpful biocontrol species of birds and insects. Imidan and Carbaryl are often recommended.
Proper timing is also essential for effective chemical control.
Local Cooperative Extension offices often have newsletters or electronic bulletin boards providing information about fruit pest life cycles and control timing for each region. Of course you may also want not to use any pesticides and let nature take its course. Pollination Apples are genetically self-incompatible, so each variety requires another variety or some wild apple trees or a crab apples nearby to provide pollen. This process is beneficial because much of the fruit that falls is damaged or seedless, and would not develop into an edible apple. If there is more than one apple per spur, or if every spur has a fruit, the excess fruit should be hand thinned before the end of June.