The almost-daily rain we had this spring really put a damper on fruit tree spraying. Pesticides work best if they are applied at least 24 hours before a rain. When a rain happens before the next spray ...

Poor pollination, pests, or lack of sunlight can keep fruit from developing fully, so create a bee-friendly, sunny ...

Question: What is dormant spray? I was told to use it on my fruit trees, but I don’t know what it is. Thanks. Answer: Dormant sprays are sprays used on fruit trees during the winter, the dormant ...

After a few years of watching and waiting for a peach tree I planted to bear fruit, it finally did this year. Unfortunately, it was unable to produce during those first few years because of peach leaf ...

Here is some advice from growers Arnold Olson of Bettendorf and Art Jackson of rural Orion, Ill., and Duane Gissel, the horticulturist at Iowa State University/Scott County Extension. -- Get the book ...

Key Points Fruit trees require year-round care starting in autumn after the harvest. Good hygiene is key to preventing ...

Unlike garden beds with spring flowers or vegetable patches, fruit trees should not be given slow-release fertilizers or compost before winter. Unless soil test results suggest otherwise, fertilizing ...

FRUIT TREES can be a welcome addition to any garden, providing delicious healthy fruit for several months of the year. However, insect infestations can impact fruit trees causing them to look ...

It is only January but I’ve already had three questions about fruit tree problems and when to begin spraying for insects and diseases. Most fruit tree sprays begin just as growth starts in spring or ...

Peach leaf curl, citrus blast and brown rot of citrus fruit are diseases common in Butte County. Fortunately, all three can be prevented or reduced with fall and winter spraying. Peach leaf curl is a ...

Q: I have an ornamental flowering plum that produces fruit. I want to spray it to stop the fruit production and the messiness it brings. Last year I had a commercial applicator apply it, but I think I ...