Backyard Fruit Trees
Backyard fruit trees can be beautiful and productive, however these trees require a great deal of care and effort each and every year.
Many people are easily swayed by the thought of planting a fruit tree and the harvest of apples, pears, or cherries. Most often though, the pests of these fruit infest the trees and the owner is left with fruit that no one wants to eat!
The amount of effort and care needed is beyond just a casual glance, it takes real time and care to produce quality fruit. These backyard trees pose a great hazard to commercial growers.
The primary focus of the Horticultural Pest and Disease Board is to serve commercial producers of Yakima County by protecting orchards from invasive pests and diseases of tree fruit that often breed on home sites or no longer farmed lands.
Pests & Diseases
Pests of tree fruit such as codling moth, pear psylla, cherry fruit fly, and apple maggot as well as diseases such as fire blight, apple scab, and others are found in neglected orchards and backyard trees. These pests and diseases reproduce in these unmanaged trees and spread to commercial orchards and cause economic losses.
If you are experiencing unusual pest or disease pressure, and are unsure how to proceed, please alert us! Is the pest or disease apparent on a nearby property? Do you have a friendly relationship with the owner? Often a friendly reminder is all it takes!