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Post by izitmidnight on Mar 6, 2012 11:02:38 GMT -5
Okay, I have a veritable small orchard in my front yard. This is the first year that they are all blooming, (Cherry, peach, apple, pear, nectarines). What can I do or what do I need to do to help the trees to successfully bear fruit? I know about spraying for tent worms. We are inundated with them every year. But is there anything I can do to help set the fruit or to help prevent any disease that may come from fruiting?
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Post by coppice on Mar 6, 2012 14:12:23 GMT -5
If branches droop definitely thin fruit.
When I had apples I would dormant spray before bloom or leaf.
Hold off spray for peach pests till after bloom.
A ring of bark mulch out to the drip edge and weekly watering or rain will all help fruit.
Tangle foot traps were helpful for apple maggot. A red ball with tangle foot daubed on it.
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olgraybear
Junior Member
Posts: 27
Joined: December 2011
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Post by olgraybear on Mar 6, 2012 14:15:45 GMT -5
My suggestion would be to watch the trees and the developing fruits, and look for signs of bugs on the fruit or leaves, and the different kinds of diseases that could pop up. There are several different problems that you can run across, but just deal with each one as it occurs. There are some preventative sprays, but that depends on if you plan to use commercial chemical sprays.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2012 8:24:47 GMT -5
My orchard is only two years old now and my biggest problem is chipmunks.... the rabbits that seemed to love my apricot tree bark was easily stopped by putting a 2ft piece of plastic drain pipe around each trunk, but the chipmunks are determined. I put chicken wire cages around each tree and they seem to focus only on the apricot and plum trees. They climb over all the stops and eat the young leaves that are forming this spring and last year they started getting the fruit when about half formed. I watched one carry a tomato from the garden last year over the chicken wire fence. I think its all because here on the desert the food and water for critters is scarce and they get resourceful. Yesterday after seeing one steal leaves from a plum tree, I tied thin strips of plastic about 2ft long in the branches to hopefully act as a scare tactic. The alternative may result in a bounty.. I was thinking about offering my grandson 5.oo dollars for everyone he got climbing the trees. I think he was hoping the plastic strips didn't work... LOL.
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Post by coppice on Apr 5, 2012 8:57:17 GMT -5
Tuk, trapping and transporting or drowning chipmunks may be the only option open to you.
Edited to add: If it sounds like I don't have a lot of sympathy for chipmunks, its cause I don't.
Over the years I transported perhaps as many as fifty away from my tree babies (bonsai).
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2012 0:13:54 GMT -5
One last try before lethal measures.... We built a 4ft tall 2ft diameter cage with a top from 1/2in hardware wire.. then set it about 4inches into the dirt... If they get past this /war is declared... LOL!
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Post by redneckplanter on Apr 8, 2012 9:47:51 GMT -5
izzy where iz you? memory says texas? only ask as i just bought some black cherry seeds. i have read 400-1200 chill hours online. dunno bout this far south. might make a diminished fruit set? i know there are a few new varieties on the market introduced in 2008. but rednecks iz cheap.lol
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Post by redneckplanter on Apr 8, 2012 9:53:33 GMT -5
this may seem like a silly question? i am still trying to transition my thinking in that trees are different than veggies...lol but if a tree is healthier via compost fertilizer teas or whatever? is it less likely to predation? bugs and diseases don't attack a healthy tree as readily as a weakened one?
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Post by coppice on Apr 8, 2012 18:18:02 GMT -5
The problem with seedling trees is they are tiny. Hobbsian monsters step on them, or eat them. and their feet are tiny limiting access to water. It is water over fertilizer that a baby tree craves.
Oh you can add some very dilute soluble fertilizer, its mostly going to make you feel better. But for potted trees daily watering simply must be done.
Crazy old Zeko Nakamura used to water his three inch tall trees up to eight times a day in their one-tablespoon sized pots...
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