What is a good, organic way to keep pests away from apple trees?

Question

What is a good, organic way to keep pests away from apple trees?

Answer 1

keeping apples clean organically is difficult and is multi faceted. Start in late winter with proper pruning. keep all dropped apples picked up in spring and summer.

Develop a spray schedule that includes organic fungicides such as lime sulphur. Bt is a good thing to spray for moths but realise you will have to spray a couple of times a week when the moths are out and laying eggs. sticky traps hung in trees are also effective.

If birds are getting at the fruit, put bird netting over the trees

the Apple Grower by Michael Phillips is an excellent book on the subject

Answer 2

I put christmas bulbs in my trees to keep the birds away.  When they peck at it it hurts there beak and they lose intrest in that tree.