Cedar-Apple Rust in Pennsylvania
MODERATEFungus
Cedar-Apple Rust is currently active in Pennsylvania. Watch your susceptible trees closely and act early.
About Cedar-Apple Rust
A fungal disease requiring two hosts to complete its life cycle: eastern red cedar (juniper) and apple or crabapple trees. It causes economic losses in apple orchards and aesthetic damage to landscape cedars.
Symptoms to watch for
Bright orange gelatinous spore horns on cedar galls in spring, yellow-orange spots on apple leaves and fruit, premature leaf and fruit drop on apples, round brown galls on cedar branches
Trees at risk in Pennsylvania
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Treatment options
Remove Nearby Junipers
Eliminating eastern red cedar and other juniper species within a few hundred yards of susceptible apple trees breaks the disease cycle. Impractical in some landscapes.
Fungicide Spray Program
Preventive application of myclobutanil or mancozeb fungicide to apple trees from pink bud through petal fall and beyond. Timing based on weather conditions and spore release.
Recommended Products & Tools
Helpful supplies for managing Cedar-Apple Rust. Always read and follow label directions, and confirm a diagnosis before treating.
Broad-spectrum protectant for many fungal leaf and bark diseases.
Preventive spray for needle cast, leaf spots, and blights.
Sharp, clean cuts to remove affected wood — a tree-care essential.
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Need help with Cedar-Apple Rust in Pennsylvania?
Find certified tree care professionals near you.
Browse all Pennsylvania arborists →Frequently asked questions
Is Cedar-Apple Rust in Pennsylvania?
Cedar-Apple Rust is currently active in Pennsylvania. Watch your susceptible trees closely and act early.
What does Cedar-Apple Rust look like?
Bright orange gelatinous spore horns on cedar galls in spring, yellow-orange spots on apple leaves and fruit, premature leaf and fruit drop on apples, round brown galls on cedar branches
What trees does Cedar-Apple Rust affect in Pennsylvania?
It affects Eastern Red Cedar, Apple, Rocky Mountain Juniper. Susceptibility varies by species.
How do I treat Cedar-Apple Rust?
Options include: Remove Nearby Junipers, Fungicide Spray Program. Confirm the diagnosis before treating, and consider a certified arborist for high-value trees.