Hi, new to the forum!
I live on the east end of Long Island NY. I have a couple questions about caring for my peach and pear trees. I have two pear trees on the property (They have been there for a while, since I bought the house). When I first bought the house they were barely producing fruit. They were covered in vines and growth from other trees. I since cleared them up and the last few years they gave me a ton of pears (not this year...maybe because of the extremely cold winter? – only a dozen each tree down from a few dozen each tree the past two years).
I recently bought a peach tree for the property. I'm getting ready to plant it this week.
What does everyone recommend for care? I never really did much to the pear trees other than pruning.
Can I use one fertilizer for both? What times of year do I apply it?
Should I cover the basses with compost or mulch?
I've heard of oils, how are they used and can I use the same for both trees?
Should I be spraying them for bugs? (again, can I use the same spray for both? Can I spray the fruit?)
The peach tree is still in the pot. Some of the leaves are starting to yellow (no sign of fungus or mold)...what does that mean? (to much water, to little water, no enough nutrients in the soil?)
Sorry for the load of questions...any help would be much appreciated!
THANKS!
Ralph
In western Oregon, where the bulk of our membership reside, peaches are tuff to grow. I’ve gone through 5 trees in 25 years and have given up on them. There are ‘commercial’ orchards with varying degrees of tree care. My favorite do very little ‘spraying’ and look fairly over-run by weeds … as their trees lose limbs to disease and don’t last that long… but while they’re there I trust the fruit and appreciate the ‘U-Pick’ opportunity.
On the other hand, an uncle tended a commercial peach orchard in which I lost track of how many chemical applications of products no longer available to the public and requiring a applicators license he used. The trees and fruit looked great, as did another orchard closer to home that did the same, but I avoided both due to their extensive spraying of anything and everything. As mentioned by John, a personal choice we all have to make.
Next door, my neighbors have a Veteran and Red Heaven peach tree. Though I prune them for fruit… they’re neglected in all ways. After our record setting wet spring I suspected the trees would be wiped out by Peach Leaf Curl. They’re not - they’re magnificent! …but, there are only 3 peaches between them … after limb-breaking loads last year...
Those non-sprayed trees receive morning sun, which I think is key. On an east facing hillside the ‘morning dew’ is evaporated early and I suspect disease transmission is lessened …they’re also very isolated. I also believe Veteran peaches are less susceptible to leaf curl, but have heard Red Haven are very susceptible…
…OK, I’ve given you very little useful info or advice… Given the humidity of your region, I’d suspect serious trouble; once counting 3 or 4 ‘diseases’ that attack peach trees… I'll suggest morning sun; look into an organic spray to stop leaf curl; thin heavy sets; wait to prune them until after they bloom; perhaps paint their trunks with ‘white interior latex paint’ to stop sun-scald and inhibit bug burrowing; rake and dispose of their leaves beyond the orchard every fall … all the while keeping your fingers crossed. I’m no expert on peaches, in fact, I failed – but around here, I’m not alone 
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
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