News Article for March 3, 2008:
The warmer weather we have experienced has the tree and flowers budding and blooming.
Peach and plums also have their buds swelling and flowers opening. This marks the start of care for their fruit if you want them disease and worm free.
You can make your first spray for insect control at the pink bud stage.
Your next opportunity to spray is when 75% of the petals have fallen from the blooms. This will allow the bees to get in there and pollinate the crop before you begin spraying.
Spray every 10-14 days until 2 weeks prior to harvest. It is necessary to get on the spray program and stay on it if you want clean fruit.
Most people who have just a few trees will find it is cheaper to buy a prepared fruit tree spray rather than mix all the required ingredients. Look at the active ingredient label of the mixture for a fungicide, usually Captan. Also, look for Malathion to take out sucking insects and an insecticide to take out chewing insects, either Sevin (also called Carbaryl) or Methoxychlor. These are the three ingredients that will make the spray effective for our conditions. You can find these sprays under such names as Home Fruit Tree Spray or Home Orchard Fruit Tree Spray. Several companies have these products.
If you want to mix your own, mix 2 tablespoons of Seven 50% W.P., plus 3 tablespoons of Malathion 25% W.P. and 4 ½ tablespoons Captan 50% W.P. Mix this with water in a 3 gallon sprayer. Add a liquid or dry detergent at the rate of 2 tablespoons per gallon of mix, and this will help the spray to adhere to foliage and fruit.
If it rains within 48 hours of an application, repeat the spray.
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Azaleas are blooming and color abounds.
Fertilize established azaleas as soon as they finish flowering with a general purpose fertilizer or an acid loving plant food. If you use 8-8-8, apply a half cup (4 ounces) per square yard of bed area (3’ x 3’). Spread the fertilizer evenly under the growing area.
If you planted azaleas this winter or spring, do not fertilize this year.
Now is a good time to evaluate you azaleas for pruning.
If they have out grown their intended space then you may need to prune. The best time to prune, and the coolest, will be right after they finish blooming. The blooming for next year will form soon and if you delay pruning them you will cut off next year’s blooms.
It is not necessary to annually prune azaleas. Only prune if needed to keep the plants where they belong.
For more information on these or related topics call Kenny at 686-3020.