Sanitation comes first. Before plants come to life in the spring, you must sanitize the fruit tree garden to remove all diseased material, like dropped fruit, branches, even fallen leaves from last year. Don't just pick up debris, but start with a steel rake to remove bulky items from the soil. Then, change to a bamboo rake to remove as much fallen leaves and debris as possible. Along the way, remove any and all mulch around and under the tree. You can scatter the mulch far, far away from fruit trees. Having removed sources of disease, you're home free!

Next, you have to buy products to protect your apple tree(s). Forget Home Depot and Lowe's because they won't have everything you need. We suggest shopping at an independent nursery in your area. They should have everything you need:

* Superior Oil (or "dormant oil" as a substitute);
* All-Purpose Fruit Tree Spray (or powdered Captan as a substitute);
* Sevin (or liquid Diazinon if you have any left on your garden shelf).

Always check your local forecast before spraying. If rain is forecast, delay the spray.

Here is your spray schedule:

GREEN TIP (when fruit buds first show green): spray buds liberally with Superior Oil as long as no rain will follow. Temperature must stay above 40 degrees for 24 hours after spraying. It controls aphids, mites and scale.

HALF-INCH GREEN TIP: apply Captan or all-purpose fruit spray to control apple scab disease.

PINK STAGE (when flower buds show pink tips): apply Captan or all-p[urpose fruit spray to control apple scab.

PETAL FALL (after 75% of flower petals have fallen): spray Captan or all-purpose fruit tree spray.

FIRST COVER SPRAY a week after petal-fall): apply Captan and all-purpose fruit tree spray.

SECOND COVER SPRAY (two weeks after first cover): apply all-purpose fruit tree spray ..

THIRD COVER SPRAY (two weeks after second cover): apply all-purpose fruit tree spray

REMAINING COVER SPRAYS (every two weeks thereafter): apply all-purpose fruit tree spray.

FIRST APPLE MAGGOT SPRAY (generally in early July): spray powdered Sevin to all fruits and leaves.

SECOND APPLE MAGGOT SPRAY (generally a week after first maggot spray): spray powdered Sevin.

THIRD APPLE MAGGOT SPRAY (generally two weeks after first maggot spray): spray powdered Sevin.