Q. What should we be doing to our fruit trees right now?
A. You should be finishing your winter pruning now. Bloom
on some fruit trees started early this year and if you haven’t finished it you
can still go ahead while it is in bloom. Be careful of the bees.
on some fruit trees started early this year and if you haven’t finished it you
can still go ahead while it is in bloom. Be careful of the bees.
Hold off
on pruning grapes until later in February when the chance of freezing
temperatures has passed.
on pruning grapes until later in February when the chance of freezing
temperatures has passed.
Fertilize
your fruit trees now if you haven’t. Use a balanced fruit tree fertilizer high
in phosphorus. If you miss this application you can use three or four liquid
applications to the leaves (spray) a week apart in the coming weeks.
your fruit trees now if you haven’t. Use a balanced fruit tree fertilizer high
in phosphorus. If you miss this application you can use three or four liquid
applications to the leaves (spray) a week apart in the coming weeks.
If you
suspect you will have yellowing due to an iron deficiency, apply the iron
chelate EDDHA to the base of the tree with your irrigation water. Trees
susceptible to iron problems include peach, nectarine, plums, apricots,
almonds, apples and pears.
suspect you will have yellowing due to an iron deficiency, apply the iron
chelate EDDHA to the base of the tree with your irrigation water. Trees
susceptible to iron problems include peach, nectarine, plums, apricots,
almonds, apples and pears.
Before
or immediately after bloom, but not during bloom, apply dormant oil to limbs
and trunk making sure you spray the undersides of the leaves, not just the
tops.
or immediately after bloom, but not during bloom, apply dormant oil to limbs
and trunk making sure you spray the undersides of the leaves, not just the
tops.
Irrigations
should be once a week as soon as you see new growth. Newly planted trees can receive 5 to 10 gallons. Trees that are up to ten years old should receive 20 to 30 gallons each time you irrigate. Irrigations should be applied to at least half of the area under the canopy.
should be once a week as soon as you see new growth. Newly planted trees can receive 5 to 10 gallons. Trees that are up to ten years old should receive 20 to 30 gallons each time you irrigate. Irrigations should be applied to at least half of the area under the canopy.
Prepare
for thinning fruit trees of excess fruit in about a month. Summer pruning will
occur in about April. Watch for my postings on future activities and when to do them.
for thinning fruit trees of excess fruit in about a month. Summer pruning will
occur in about April. Watch for my postings on future activities and when to do them.
Thanks for the information. This article saved me a trip to the nursery and possibly made my tree healthier since I'll be doing the right thing at the right time.
The better you prune, the less fruit to thin!