skip to main content

Fruit & Orchards

Maintenance for young peach tree

11 years ago

Hello everyone. This is my first time growing a peach tree (or fruit tree in general). So far, the July Elberta peach tree has grown quite vigorously since I've planted it.

I have some questions about it, in terms of maintenance. I've been trying to find some yearly schedule/calendar on when to prune it, when to give it fertilizer, and when to use what pesticide/spray. I've heard from from the forums that its best to use some type of copper based fungicidal spray before the winter starts. Which one should I use and when? And also, is it necessary to paint the trunks white? Can I just use a white tree guard that goes around the tree trunk?

I've been overwhelemd by what the plenty of sources say. I was just wondering if someone can tell me their schedule here or point me to a simple one that works for peach trees.

Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Scott F Smith
11 years ago
The super simple calendar for a tree that has not started bearing fruit is prune in March, spray copper/oil just as the buds swell, fertilize in April by top-dressing with compost and a handful of 5-5-5 or similar, and mulch with wood chips out to the canopy size sometime in spring.

During the growing season there is not much to do until the tree bears fruit. Once it starts bearing you will have a load of work and challenges. Do water the tree in dry spells.

In the fall if the tree got some disease such as bacterial spot during the summer, spray copper again just after the leaves have fallen.

There is probably no need to paint trunks white in the mid-atlantic, that is for sunnier places. I would not recommend tree guards as they can be home for pests.

Some common mid-atlantic problems you should read up on for when the tree starts to bear include: plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, stink bugs, bacterial spot, brown rot, peach tree borer, squirrels, deer. All of these have been major problems for me at some point. There are many other things listed in the literature but its these "biggies" that will keep you busy.

Scott
Omni
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you for your reply!
Are there any chemicals of sprays that I should get? Anything to apply during the winter or right before it comes out of dormancy in early spring?
Related Discussions
need advice on Preventive Maintenance for Peach trees
Q
Comments (8)
In roasting places you paint trunks of transplants and young trees with 50/50 white latex and water to prevent sunburn, stress and delay in adjusting at best and borer invasion and/or death at worst. I did not do this when moving a large spiney bottle from a less sunny to most sunny location in my yard, instead wrapping it with burlap. The tree's trunk was immediately sunburned and promptly attracted a borer, I saw the ooze running out the worst sunburned spot on the base for some time. If you research it you'll learn borers are attracted to stressed trees. The spiney bottle was so large and vigorous it suffocated the borer years ago. I just rescued a Fuji from a paintless grower - it's about 2" at widest spot in graft, has several dead borer tunnels at graft and has lost about half of its vital wood on the sunny side of the graft. It has character and spunk! If this hasn't happened to your AZ peaches yet and you aren't moving them or removing shade on their trunks I wouldn't be worried about it. It is my understanding that in cold zones trunk painting prevents the tree from wakening from dormancy on a nice day which can result in damage to the tree when rotten weather returns.
...See More
Protecting young peach tree this winter?
Q
Comments (2)
It won't need protection in fall or when dormant in winter. But after the flower buds start swelling in late winter then protect it from freezing. In your area that should only be once or twice a year that it might need protection. Even after bud swell and through flowering it has to drop below 28F to cause damage. But the forecast isn't always that good so freezing is a good protection threshold.
...See More
Water and other issues with young peach tree
Q
Comments (7)
Thanks for the input. Is it your experience that peaches are thirstier than other trees? My concern is that it seems to use much more water than everything else. Also, any ideas on the leaf spots? I forgot to mention that they get water once a week 20 minutes from Nov-June and twice a week 15 min from July-Oct. When temps exceed 88 they get an extra 50%. I spaced the fruit about 6" but I allowed fruit closer if they were on alternating sides of a stem (i.e., growing away from each other). Is this ok, or should I prune more fruit? AFA the spraying goes I tend to go after everything in the edibles section early before the damage begins. The frequency is due to the very mild potency of this stuff, which is gone in a week, especially with the heavy dew we get overnight from now through June. We just get a lot of munchers here, especially caterpillars/worms/lopers. I will lay off the peach tree until I see something.
...See More
Too Young To Die! (For a Peach Tree)
Q
Comments (1)
Look up "shot hole disease" on peach trees. Look like you have a bad case of it,
...See More
Scott F Smith
11 years ago
At this point the only thing you need is a copper spray in fall. Some people spray oil in spring but that is usually not needed on peach trees. The one thing I occasionally need oil for is white scale on peaches, if you see stuff that looks like flaking white paint that gets mooshy when you squish it you will need to spray oil. Its very unlikely you would have that now.

Also read up on all the pests I mention above, you will need to be doing a lot of spraying once the fruits start forming and you have a few years to get ready.

Scott
Omni
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks a lot Scott! Any recommendations for copper spray?
Scott F Smith
11 years ago
I use Kocide 3000 but it may come in large bags only. Any copper will work, they are all similar but Kocide 3000 is the best in terms of letting you use less copper. Copper must be limited since it stays in the soil and after many years there can be a problem with soil life.

Scott
Bradybb WA-Zone8
11 years ago
There was a recent discussion with Mrs.G about using Chlorothalonil,(Bonide's Fung-onil)being one fungicide mentioned.Can that be used in place of Copper? Thanks,Brady

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Peaches and Nectarines

By Marianne Lipanovich

Make gardening a little sweeter with these juicy fruits, which you can eat after plucking or preserve for later

MONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTS Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your house and yard for cold weather with this list of things to do in an hour or over a weekend

MOST POPULAR A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Home Maintenance

By Christine Tusher

Take care of these tasks to avoid major home hassles, inefficiencies or unsightliness down the road

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year

PLANTING IDEAS Stretch the Budget, Seasons and Style: Add Conifers to Your Containers

Small, low-maintenance conifers are a boon for mixed containers — and you can transplant them to your garden when they’ve outgrown the pot

TREES 7 Deer-Resistant Flowering Trees to Plant this Fall

If you live in a neighborhood with roaming deer, consider these beautiful trees that won't tempt hungry guests

GARDENING GUIDES Prunus Virginiana Thrives Under Deciduous Trees

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant chokecherry for showy white flowers favored by native bees in spring, and to provide nesting habitat and food for birds

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Top California Native Plants, Trees and Grasses

By Debbie Ballentine

Enjoy a fuss-free, water-wise garden in the Golden State by growing plants naturally in tune with the climate and wildlife

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

GARDENING GUIDES Plant Black Cherry Trees for the Birds and Bees

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant Prunus serotina in the Central and Eastern U.S. for spring flowers, interesting bark and beautiful fall color

Sponsored

More Discussions

Is there any treatment for this?

3

Identify an olive tree that is nit flowering after more than 15 years.

8

Advice on planting blueberry plant

9

Peach trees need help!

1

Peach Tree Leaf Curl

6