Question
In regards to your response on the cedar rust fungus on Washington Hawthornes - if your tree is exhibiting the fungus today ( late summer/early fall) is there anything we should do to the parts of the tree exhibiting the disease.  Right now my tree ( about 2 1/2 years old) shows many areas of the fungus.  Does the fungus die off in the winter and once the spring comes if I spray with fungicide this should keep the disease from reappearing?

Answer
The rust fungus on the hawthorne is on the leaves. If cedar apple rust is a continuing problem, organic fungicides can be applied weekly starting with bud break. Fungicide applications are used to protect the tree from spores being released by the juniper host in mid-spring. This occurs only once a year, so additional applications after this springtime spread are not necessary. Rake up and dispose of fallen leaves and other debris from under the trees.

Fungicides available to the homeowner are limited. Funginex is labeled for control of rust on apple. A Benlate/Captan tank mix applied every 10 days from the pink stage (blossoms begin to show pink before opening) to second cover (3 weeks after all petals fall) is an option. Additional products, including Daconil 2787 and Cleary誷 3336, are available for control of rust on crabapples.