• Plant a disease resistant tree such as 'Liberty.' These apples do not get the apple scab disease.

•  Plant a dwarf or semi-dwarf tree

• Plant tree in early fall or spring in a sunny location with plenty of air circulation

• Apply insecticide Imidan (phosmet) when all the flower petals have fallen (generally late May) and again 10-14 days later to control the plum curculio, European apple sawfly, leafrollers, and codling moth.

• Hang sticky red spheres in trees at the end of June Use 1-6 traps per tree, depending on tree size. Ideally use 1 trap per 150 fruit. Set traps at approximately head-height in the outer portion of tree canopy where there are plenty of developing fruits nearby. Remove all fruit and foliage within 1-2 feet of the trap. Traps can be purchased at garden centers.

• Pick up and remove dropped apples, and rake and destroy apple leaves in the fall. If you already have disease-susceptible trees planted, spray a fungicide such as Captan every 7 days from late April to early June.

• For an overview of home apple tree management and sources of disease resistant fruit trees, see "Home Tree and Small Fruit Pest Management Guide," or visit the URI Apple IPM website at http://www.uri.edu/research/IPM