An all-purpose fruit spray, which typically contains an insecticide and a fungicide, is a good starting point. The label will list the trees that can be sprayed and pests that can be controlled. Check for harvest restrictions and other cautions, such as "Do not spray during bloom." Experience will tell you the key pests on your trees, and you can select more specific products to target them rather than applying calendar sprays. Contact your local Extension office for pesticide recommendations.

Effective management of early season pests usually is the foundation to producing good fruit. The period between bud break (green tip) and about a week after petal fall is an important one. Feeding by plant bugs and other sucking insects that are active during this period causes bumpy or dimpled fruit. Knocking back other important pests (codling moth, mites, etc.) early can reduce problems with subsequent generations later in the season.