General Care of Fruit Trees
There are some differences in care for the different species of fruit tree. However, there are a number of general techniques that can almost always insure success in terms of a crop of attractive and tasty fruit.
Annual Soil Building Program Most Critical To Success
Annual Spray Program
Problems of fruit trees come from fungal disease and pest insects. The following general spray program will prevent most if not all of the most common fungal disease and pest insects attacking fruit trees. All the products mentioned here are available from Amazon.com; see links below.
Late Winter - Before leaves begin to bud, spray the bark of the whole tree with dormant oil. This will kill most of the eggs of pest insects overwintering in the pits and cavities in the bark of your fruit tree.
When the soil temperature reaches at least 50 degrees and before the flower buds appear apply a drench and a foliar spray to each tree. The drench is composed of Actinovate and Thrive. The Actinovate prevents fungal disease of the roots and Thrive adds beneficial microbes to the soil. Apply a gallon of this mixture around the trunk of each tree.
The foliar spray is a combination of Actinovate, Spinosad, Seaweed or Kelp extract, and Azamax. Using a pump spray cover both and tops and the undersides of all the leaves on each tree. The Actinovate prevents all key fungal diseases. The Spinosad and the Avamax kills all the key pest insects attacking your fruit tree. The Seaweed/Kelp increases the plants vigor and ability to withstand attacks by disease and insects.
Apply this foliar mixture to each tree every three to four weeks until the leaves begin to fall off the trees in the fall.
All fruit trees should have a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch aroung the trunk out just past the drip line for 365 days a year. The mulch should not touch the trunk. That material is the food for the beneficial creatures in the soil that help insure a healthy fruit tree.
The tree's growth rate will indicate any additonal need for fertilizer. Here are some general guidelines that can help you gauge whether your tree is growing as it should. Established peach trees should have shoots that grow 8 to 18 inches a year, while the shoots of young trees should grow at least 12 inches. Long shoots (24 inches) that have grown too fast generally don't produce many flower buds, nor do shoots on the short side (3 to 4 inches). The shorter shoots also tend to produce smaller fruit. \
General Care of Berries
Feeding Berry Plants