Spring Tree Treats?

[desertgirl]

What special things (if any) do you do for your trees to get them ready for spring/summer. I know some things are species dependant, but...

We were talking on another thread about burying compost around the roots throughout the fall/winter, so that when the soil starts warming up there is a little "energy packet" down by the roots. Any other tricks?

 

[journey11]

I bury some fish offal around the perimeter (a little ways from the root ball) when I plant a new tree. I save all my fish scraps from the trout, catfish, etc. I catch and freeze them until I am ready to plant a new tree.

Also, whenever we lose a pet or a chicken, we bury them just out from the dripline of a tree. I know, that is a depressing thought!! But at least they go on to serve a purpose.

I used those fertilizer stakes for fruit trees once too on an old apple tree and got the nicest apples off of it that year.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Yes! Journey is so right! I have my beloved Andalusian roo, "Velazquez", buried below one of my fig trees. I under-planted the tree with spring bulbs in purples, blues & white. So when Spring arrived last year it was a joyful sight & made me feel happy to remember him (he had dropped dead in front of me & I was heart-broken). The fig tree is growing really well, it had been doing very badly in a pot for a few years but I think all the rain of last summer plus "Velazquez's" contribution really did the trick.I hope for my first fruit this year........!!

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[desertgirl]

What a great story,Hattie!! (sorry about your loss, but how great that he saved your poor fig!).

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Good morning desertgirl,

Thank you. :bouquet

Nature has a very special magic that heals!


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[desertgirl]

Couldn't have said it better.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As you said, it is tree dependent. It may be a little late to prune those that require it for you, but many of us still have some time. I did mine in January.

For my fruit trees, I'll soon spray some with the dormant oil. That needs to be a little before they start leafing out.

It's a good time to renew any mulch you might use to keep the grass and weeds from getting a start.

That's about all I can think of for mine specific to spring. Like Journey and Hattie, I bury things outside the drip line; coons, possoms, dead chickens, the stuff that is left after I butcher a chicken, but that is year round.

 

[vfem]

I will rake in some compost into the old mulch, and then layer on new mulch with my fruit trees. Apples will be on their second year, and peaches have now completed there first year.

I need me some neem oil for them though.

I think that is all my plans for treating them at all.

Oh, and I'll do the same (minus neem oil) for my japanese maple which is on its 3rd year and it only maybe 15" tall still!

 

[desertgirl]

neem oil? Could you tell me more please?

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Here you go desertgirl

http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-oil.html

Good stuff...!!


:rose Hattie :rose