Plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, bacterial spot, and brown rot are the most significant problems apricots face.  Plum curculio are generally restricted to the eastern half of the United States.  Brown rot is also responsible for twig and blossom blight, which is not uncommon for certain apricot trees.  Bacterial spot should not be confused with peach scab, which is often quite minor on its own.  Additional research should be done on these pests and diseases before planting an apricot tree. 

Disease resistant apricots require moderate to high effort to manage in some of the more challenging environments they have been grown in.  However, this does not account for their early blooming habit, which makes them exceedingly vulnerable to frost damage in most of the US.

Apricots regularly experience sudden death in wet environments shortly after the leaves sprout.  The reason for this isn't entirely known, but the citation rootstock, which they are often grafted to, may be the primary cause.