Thanks for the info fruitnut,jellyman. I did take the garbage bags off first thing in the am before sun came up, as I thought about the leaves/trees cooking. The news here says that 90% of the peach crop in south carolina is gone. I don't know what else I could have done, as the 10-20mph winds during the cold snap here, would and did prevent any heat sources near trees from keeping the air warm. I am watching the 4 peach trees to see if in next month leaves come back, and I will be careful not to overwater them. I pour 5 gallons of water each week on each tree, includes the cheeries and apples. As I said before the apples and cheeries are fine, as jellyman pointed out, I would have been better just to have not done anything, and not used the garbage bags. Thanks for all the info.

Mrclint - Your response sounds very much like you think I'm being silly for being concerned. This is a small tree and the first year I planted it so I feel my concern is rather legit in regards to what is going on. This tree had a max of maybe 6 peaches on it and if I had a tree that is a few years old and large enough to produce the numbers you are then yes I wouldn't be concerned. Also no where on my post did I state that I plan on using poison to control the problem nor did I even ask if poison was an option. I currently have birds attacking my tomatoes and the holes are rather similar to those on my peaches and I simply placed netting over them to protect them. I'm sure down the road I'll get to know more about peaches and my peach tree will be bigger (I hope!) and produce more peaches. As I get to know what to expect then I can probably think nothing about losing two peaches.

But potted trees can be planted almost any time the ground can be worked- that is the point of them. It's just easier to establish trees if they are in the ground before the spring growth surge when roots do their most vigorous growing of the season. However, if you get a potted tree now you should put it in the ground now and it will do fine as long as you don't let the potting soil dry out before it has roots in the native soil, especially if it's still in leaf. Also, in cold climates, an airy mulch will help prevent any danger of the roots freezing if there's inadequate snow cover. I believe there may be more danger of this happening before roots are established in native soil.

Some of the varieties are root, branch and leaf hardy. Some varieties have hardier buds than -10F as well. I have had a crop or two off a couple of seedling trees but not quality fruit. Contender and Reliance are possible choices for hardier and later blooming flowers. Late frost and/or too early bloom are the most common dangers to the flower buds. FWIW I live in the heart of Minneapolis; so that is a heat island and take this with whatever salt necessary. Bottom line is that peaches are not a dependable cash crop really anywhere in Minnesota, but will produce crops many years anyway, but probably only in the southern third and/or in south central urban heat islands. By the time one gets north of the Twin Cities peaches in the ground are probably never going to blossom. And tree ripened quality cultivars are definitely superior to anything from a grocery store.