Apple Trees Seem to be Doing Well

[Cabin Fever]

I planted 4 apple trees along my yard 2 years ago. 2 Arkansas Black, 1 Fuji, and 1 Honey Crisp. Planted the Arkansas black specifically for deer as I read they love them AND they drop much later than other varieties (~Nov), so we'll see. I fenced them in when I planted to protect from deer, while the trees are still so young. Yeah, if deer really wanted to, they could easily jump the fence, but there's plenty of food year round around here, so I don't think they would bother. Once the trees grow more and start producing apples, I'll pull the fence down.

Don't laugh at my down spout tree protectors! Rabbits were getting in under the fence and chewing the hell out of the bark! The only thing I had on hand was an old down spout, so I improvised! 

 

[Robhuntandfish]

We put three in at hunting land and two are doing well.  Haven't grown a lot yet but blossoming and living.  

Those look pretty good Bob.  Good idea on the full fencing.  We put the black plastic tubing around them and so far the deer haven't decimated them.  Hoping for apples in a few years. 

[Bucksnbows]

I have found apples to be very finicky to grow well and they seem to always be fighting blights and require spraying.  I switched to pears and they produce well annually or should and don't require the maintenance of apples.  My two cents, but if you keep up with the apples, you will be happy.  

[Cabin Fever]

Should I be spraying them annually? If so, is there a general spray? I guess I better look into this...

[Otto]

Those are great varieties to eat on your own, never mind the deer!

I use Bonide Fruit Tree Spray which is  both a fungicide and an insecticide.  Good all purpose spray. If you get a specific issue, you may have to get something specific to combat it.  

[Cabin Fever]

12 minutes ago, Otto said:

Those are great varieties to eat on your own, never mind the deer!

I use Bonide Fruit Tree Spray which is  both a fungicide and an insecticide.  Good all purpose spray. If you get a specific issue, you may have to get something specific to combat it.  

Oh yeah!! We love Fuji and Honey Crisp apples! "Some" of those are for us! LOL I've never tried (or seen) an Arkansas Black before. Should I start spraying now or when they're older? They've been in the ground for 2 years now. This is the first year with buds.

[Otto]

I think now is ok.  Read the label, you need to spray at different intervals to cover everything….dormant, bud tip, flowered, fruit set, prior to harvest etc.  

[mowin]

With the regs this state has, I'm surprised there's even a spray legal to use. 

[Bucksnbows]

59 minutes ago, mowin said:

With the regs this state has, I'm surprised there's even a spray legal to use. 

Decades ago, fruit farmers used a lot of arsenic to treat their trees. We still see legacy soils behind old dams in rivers where orchards are/were present for many decades. 

[Spaceman Spiff]

17 hours ago, mowin said:

With the regs this state has, I'm surprised there's even a spray legal to use. 

There basically isnt.

[Spaceman Spiff]

16 hours ago, Bucksnbows said:

Decades ago, fruit farmers used a lot of arsenic to treat their trees. We still see legacy soils behind old dams in rivers where orchards are/were present for many decades. 

They used to spray mercury on the trees as well….yum. 

[Bucksnbows]

1 minute ago, Spaceman Spiff said:

They used to spray mercury on the trees as well….yum. 

[Cabin Fever]

4 minutes ago, Spaceman Spiff said:

They used to spray mercury on the trees as well….yum. 

I was told that would put hair on your chest? 

[Spaceman Spiff]

3 hours ago, Cabin Fever said:

I was told that would put hair on your chest? 

Haha yeah something like that 

[LET EM GROW]

How did the heavy frost last week effect them? We got hit pretty hard here.. Anything on field edges or in the open anyways..