old fruit trees, question

[okiegirl]

Ok, I've searched the old posts but didn't see what I'm looking for, so if this has been covered, sorry.

We bought a home with a mini orchard (probably 30 trees). Plum, pear, peach, necterine (sp?), apple & mulberry trees. We bought the house at the end of July. There weren't any fruit then and we didn't get any apples in the fall. Have no idea what type each fruit tree is. The lady we bought from was getting older (hence, reason she was selling) and not able to to care for the property.

Now, to the question. Should I do a major pruning to see if I can get the trees back in shape? or should I just do a wait and see? If I do a pruning, how far back can I cut the trees? I know they said the reason we didn't have any peach or necterine was because we had a last frost last year and killed all the buds. We did get some pears on one tree, but they were way high and had black spots on them. A friend said the spots were because of wasps and I should spray next year. (?) I've never had fruit trees so I don't know anything about them.

Please don't say to have a tree expert come out and look, 'cause we don't have the funds to do that. wish we did.

 

[bid]

I suggest you visit your county ag extension office. They will have publications on fruit tree care and you can probably get a tree expert from the office to come out for free and identify the trees and make recomendations for you.

 

[okiegirl]

good idea. thanks!

 

[lesa]

I agree with bid- cooperative extension is the way to go. I think you will have a much better idea what you are dealing with come spring. There is a lot of pruning info on the net- but they make it look really confusing... In the spring you could post some photos on here and people with fruit trees will be a big help. Welcome! Welcome! Counting the days till spring...

 

[Rosalind]

Yes, another vote for the ag extension service. You can rehab old trees, but you have to be veeerrrrry careful and it tends to take a lot more cutting than most folks feel comfortable with. It depends on how bad the damage is too, what type of damage it is; with older trees that have not been maintained, generally what happens is the branches get too crowded and fungus sets in. The fungal infections need chopped out, various other branches need taken out to get more airflow through the tree--that means taking out some productive-looking center branches, which is the bit most people don't like to see. If bugs have gotten into the tree, the bug-infested parts will need hacked out and burned. Then the whole thing needs sprayed down with an appropriate spray depending on the type of infections (fungus, virus, bacteria, insect).

It also depends on how old the trees are. Peaches, nectarines tend not to last more than several decades due to various diseases no matter how they are maintained, whereas apples and pears can last centuries with proper care.

 

[okiegirl]

just called the ext center and the expert will call me on Monday. Hopefully we'll get some on site help.

thanks for the advise

 

[journey11]

Yeah, the extension office guys will come out for free.

Since you weren't there for the spring, I would only do maintenence pruning this winter and take notes of what happens in the spring (late frosts & what was blooming then and if you got good blooms keep an eye out to see if they're getting adequate pollination for an orchard that big).

If everything is as it should be and you are still not setting fruit, then you need to look further into the health of the trees themselves. Probably gonna need the ag ext. guys for that, especially since you have multiple species of trees.

I have heard of a method for forcing an old apple tree to bear that involves lightly scoring the circumference of the branches with a sharp knife, cutting into the cambium layer and somehow it stimulates hormones in the tree. I only vaguely recall what I read though, so you'd want to do more research on it before you tried anything like that.

Good luck with your orchard! Hopefully you'll be able to get it bearing and not have to wait 5 years on newly planted trees.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

okiegirl




I think you have been given great advice & getting someone local to come out to you will be a huge help.

Howeverthese might interest you if you have time to read them over the holidays:

http://www.weekendgardener.net/tree-information/notching-buds-120912.htm

Plus section 4 (old & neglected fruit trees) on here:

http://www.weekendgardener.net/how-to/prune-apple-trees.htm

Have a great holiday season !


:rose Hattie :rose