Fruit tree issue with I think is a disease?

Last year I had really big issues with my small fruit trees, I have shown pictures of them in this posting. Before they start to grow again this year, should I be spraying with any wash or insecticide? I have been told that as they are near confirs that the disease comes from them? The fruit trees are apple and pear trees . The ground is good, plenty of moisture. It was advised to put some traps on the trees now … is this correct ? Any advice appreciated

 

I'm sorry but it looks dead to me.

 

Hi, it's highly unlikely that any disease would spread from a conifer to a fruit tree, but the roots could be taking out all the moisture and goodness from surrounding soil and may even have invaded those raised beds. Did you keep them well-watered through the summer, because that looks like severe drought to me. Alternatively, do the beds drain through into the soil beneath? Might they have become waterlogged and the fruit tree roots drowned?
Scratch the bark with a fingernail to see if there's green wood beneath. If there isn't then they're dead.
Was the fruit maggotty? If the trees are still alive, then you could hang a pheromone trap or two to catch the codling moths responsible.
No point spraying, just clear away any dead leaves and fruit and see what happens.

 

The fact that the dead leaves are still on the tree indicates that the tree is probably dead.

 

Pear rust does spread from Junipers to Pear trees, but yes that tree does look dead. Try the scrape test. Scratch a little piece of bark and if it is green underneath then the tree is live, if brown then sorry.

 

I would normally agree but my Hamamelis kept all it's brown leaves this winter and then flowered beautifully

 

I have a small red oak that did retain dead leaves well into winter, but I agree with @NigelJ in most circumstances dead leaves still attached does suggest the wood is dead, especially as the pictures appear to be late last summer.

 

Juvenile beech trees also retain their leaves over winter.