Grant Jones City of Bowling Green Caring for Fruit Trees Grant Jones City of Bowling Green

Outline Pruning Fertilizing Pest Management Thinning Fruit

Collar Strong union without a bark inclusion Strong unions are typically U shaped and have no bark inclusion. The branch on the right appears well secured to the tree and does not need treatment of any kind. Collar 4

Branch Attachment Image from Up by the Roots

Included Bark

Good Branch Attachment

Proper Finishing Cuts

Closure of Pruning Cuts

Improper Cut

Types of Pruning Cuts Thinning cut Heading back Remove branch back to a lateral Preferred cut in many cases Heading back Cutting back of current growth or one year growth In shrubs technique may result in a lot of stem tissue and few leaves

Proper Heading Cut

Dense vs. Open Growth

Training Young Trees Peach Plum Apricot Cherry Cherry Apples Pears Source: Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide

Training Apple and Pear – Year 1 Select 3-4 scaffolds Space branches Remove shoots below first scaffold in 1-2 years Spread branches out at a 60-70 degree angle once they are 6 inches long Use clothespins for 1 growing season Remove limbs with narrow crotches (45 degrees or less)

Spacing Branches Source: New Mexico State Extension Spread branches out at a 60-70 degree angle once they are 6 inches long Use clothespins for 1 growing season Remove limbs with narrow crotches (45 degrees or less) Source: New Mexico State Extension

Training - Years 2-5 Space branches for first 5 years Remove unwanted shoots/branches along central leader Eventually cut leader back to 2 year old wood for pyramidal shape

Training – Open Vase Select 3-4 scaffold branches Heading cut to central leader just after selected scaffolds Heading cut to outward lateral bud

Mature Trees Prune in late winter/early spring Balance dose with vigor Maintain form Remove upward and downward growing branches Allow light penetration/airflow

Overgrown Fruit Trees Source: Ravenskill Orchard

Questions to ask: Source: Ravenskill Orchard

Questions to ask: 1) Do you enjoy fruit trees Source: Ravenskill Orchard

Questions to ask: 1) Do you enjoy fruit trees 2) Does the fruit taste good Source: Ravenskill Orchard

Questions to ask: 1) Do you enjoy fruit trees 2) Does the fruit taste good 3) Are the trees in good shape Source: Ravenskill Orchard

Neglected Trees Step 1 – Remove dead and diseased branches

Neglected Trees Step 1 – Remove dead and diseased branches Step 2 – Remove crossing and rubbing branches

Neglected Trees Step 1 – Remove dead and diseased branches Step 2 – Remove crossing and rubbing branches Step 3 – If reducing height significantly, spread it out over several years.

Fertilizer Soil test first Don’t over apply N Pears/Apples Pruning/vigor Pears/Apples Annually, Only N when mature, overapplying N promotes fireblight Cherry/Peach Not needed if 12-18 inches of new growth

Growing Degree Days www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/gdd/CalendarView.asp

GDDS for Fruit Pests

Fireblight

Fireblight

Fireblight Management: Streptomycin, Oxytetracyclin, and copper-based fungicide may provide some protection Sterile prune at least 8-12 below dieback

Apple Scab Mainly on apple Brownish, scabby spots on leaves, premature yellowing and leaf drop Remove leaf litter; preventative fungicides can help

Apple Scab

Apple Scab Control Fungicide spray program – every 7 days Products include: Sulfur, Captan Good Sanitation Resistant cultivars

Dormant Oil 1-1.5%

Identification and Life History

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Codling Moth

Codling Moth Generations 2-3 Monitor using Growing Degree Days (GDD) and pheromone traps Collect five moths in pheromone trap. Wait 250 GDD and apply a spray treatment Keep monitoring and apply a second spray treatment 250 GDD after five moths are caught again within a week

Pheromone Traps Hang pheromone traps in SE side of tree 6 feet off the ground

Other Options ½ cup molasses 2.5 cups warm water ½ tsp dried bakers yeast Makes enough for 3 ½ gallon milk jugs Hang from May-Aug Refill if needed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn1hukQICbI

Brown Rot Susceptibility: Sweet Cherries > sour cherries Nectarines > peaches Apricots are highly susceptible

Brown Rot Management: Remove infested fruit or mummies Fungicide sprays 2 at bloom and 2-3 sprays before harvest

Cherry Leaf Spot Survives on leaf debris – good sanitation Fungicides sprays beginning two weeks after bloom Rotate between myclobutanil and captan at recommended label rates Copper provides some protection

Peach Leaf Curl

Peach Leaf Curl Host: Peach Leaves pucker and curl. Bulges turn from green to yellow to red. White bloom develops on upper leaf surface. Overwinters on bud scales Copper-based fungicide prior to bud swell. Applications after budbreak are ineffective Photos from Len Burkhart

Peachtree Borer

Peachtree Borer Most critical during the first 3-5 years after planting Treat bark with protectant to kill eggs when then hatch Treat at peak emergence using pheromone traps and again six weeks later

Pesticide Basics Softer Products Spinosad Horticultural/Dormant Oil Insecticidal Soap Neem Pyrethrin Sulfur/Lime

Pesticide Basics – Softer Pesticides Active Ingredient Controls Spinosad Caterpillars Sulfur Fungus Copper Dormant/Horticultural Oil Many insects Neem Oil Kaolin Klay Insects

Preharvest Interval

Fruit Thinning Heavy fruit set reduces quality Peaches Apples ¾ in size, 4-6 inches between in peaches, 2-3 inches pear Apples Space every 6 inches Thin early

Fruit Thinning

References Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide: Cultural Practices and Pest Management Midwest Tree Fruit Pest Management Handbook

Grant Jones 419.353.4101 gjones@bgohio.org