The last couple years my fruit trees have been neglected. They are overgrown and the fruits are full of spots (a few pics below). Starting this fall, I will begin getting my fruit trees healthier next seasons crop.

Here is a month by month for Fall/Winter to prepare for the Spring/Summer tasks.

October

• Harvesting: harvest the remaining fruits

• Post-Harvest Cleanup: Remove any fallen fruit and leaves, bag them up and have Waste Management take them away to ensure any infected leaves and fruits are off the property.

• Pruning: Do some light pruning and remove damaged or broken branches.

November

• Clean around the trunks and replace the old mulch with a new 3 to 4 inch layer of hay (not touching the trunk)

• Irrigation: Water before the ground freezes.

• Setup bird feeders in the trees to attract birds to clean up insects

December

• Check for pests

January/February

• Prune the trees while they are dormant. I will remove the dead and/or diseased branches and crossing limbs to improve air circulation and allow sunlight to flow through.

• Check for signs of overwintering pests and/or diseases and remove any infected wood.

•Spray the entire trees with all season horticultural oil in 40 degrees or above weather.

These tasks will keep me busy through the Fall and Winter. Spring and Summer still to come. Stay tuned…