Cedar Apple Rust

Fruiting bodies for Cedar Apple Rust
Fruiting bodies for Cedar Apple Rust

We are getting reports of Cedar Apple Rust fruiting bodies showing up on Eastern Red Cedars.  Orange tentacles emerge from nodules on branches and look really creepy.

To protect your fruit trees, ornamental crabapples, Hawthorn, and Chokeberry among others, you may want to spray with a broad spectrum fungicide.  On a bright sunny day in the next week, apply a light coating of fungicide with a sprayer.  The sunshine will help the fungicide stick to the leaves and give better protection.  You may want to repeat spray in 2-4 weeks.