Apple Trees?

[Drop 4/5]

Just planted 4 apple trees on the property last week. I am not local and was wondering how concerned I need to be with watering them in these early stages.

Thanks Ron

 

[ShaneHallum]

As long as you watered them in good, they should be fine. I wouldn't say that normally, but we've had alot of rain.

 

[Dr2kill]

Should be good to go. This is the time of the year that is recommended to plant trees...

 

[TS_13]

You might have to worry around the 1st of July...

 

[Football Hunter]

But you will have to sray em I bet

 

[Drop 4/5]

Thanks for the input. I sprayed them with some type of oil for fruit trees that the co-op recommended before I left to protect from bugs and will spray them again in the next couple months when I get back in town.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

I recommend cages around all fruit trees. The deer love eating them back and the bucks like rubbing against them.

 

[Drop 4/5]

I placed a 5' cage around them all. I would guess they are about 7' tall. I know its going to be a couple years before I may get results I just would hate to lose them before I got some fruit out of them. I also have some old crabapple trees approx 20 in small groups. They dont seem to be very productive so I attempted to prune them a little. Is there anything else I should try to increase production?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Do the crabapples get plenty of sunlight? You could fertilize as well. Pruning is good, should encourage some new growth. Its hard to give advice really without seeing the trees. Given your location, Im assuming these are the native crabs that were once prolific in our area? These have been slowly dying out over the years, due to competition and fireblight mainly. Im only 21 and can remember hunting with Dad over 10-15 tree bunches out in the middle of the woods when I was little, very few of those bunches are left now.

 

[Drop 4/5]

Steve,

They get plenty of sunlight and I did fertilize them with some ground spikes. If your ever on Peters Ford Rd. I am just south of the Clear Fork river bridge and I boarder BSF. They can be seen from the road, take a look

Thanks Ron

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Ah heck yeah I know where your place is. That is a dandy looking place! I live in Allardt and hunt some around Burrville and Sunbright so Im through there alot. Actually own 50 acres on the other side of Sunbright as of like 2 weeks ago. Those are the old native crabs there, I hope they start doing better. That native crab was wiped out of West Fentress under the Plateau many years ago but has hung on in the higher elevation of the Plateau. I would do everything under my power to save those trees, you might want to think about spraying them if you notice any spots on the leaves. And definitely, definitely, If you see some dead limbs with dead brown leaves on them this summer, cut those limbs off immediately and burn them. That is fireblight and the only way to keep it from spreading is to cut off the infected areas and burn.

 

[Drop 4/5]

Yeah I am trying to get the place cleaned up a bit. Those crab apple trees had some apples last year but not many. I cleaned up around the bottom of them and pruned all the dead branches that I could reach. I will try and work on them some more next trip.

 

[TS_13]

those would be great to get some cutting off of..... esp if they are native..