Fruit Tree Care for Healthy, Tasty Edible Gardens

Proper fruit tree care doesn’t just make your yard look better — it also makes it taste better. Most people think “edible garden” and think veggie plots, maybe edible flowers and perhaps some strawberries. However, fruit trees are also edible, assuming you care for them and nurture them into producing a bountiful harvest. First, make sure you choose fruit trees that suit your climate. If they aren’t native plants, you’re going to have a tough time making them grow. Every fruit tree is different, but some general best practices apply to most. For instance, the vast majority of fruit trees like to soak up the sun all day long from spring through early autumn. No sunlight equals no fruit, and some trees like citrus or feijoas are thirsty for “winter sun.” You also need

Consider the Trees When House-Shopping

You may imagine trimming that gorgeous outdoor pine for the holidays when looking for a new home, lot or property — but do not get caught up in that fantasy quite yet. Buying a home or lot with plentiful and mature trees has its pros and potential cons. All trees, plants and shrubs require routine care and maintenance in order to stay healthy. If you are an avid gardener, committed to having an arborist inspect your greenery annually, and have the knowledge and finances to care for a green space, that’s great. If not, you may want to reconsider what kind of greenery your potential investment boasts. Home inspections do not include the inspection of the trees on your property. Diseased, dying or pest-riddled trees are not always apparent to the naked eye. Plus, unless you are an

Is Tree Trimming or Removal Needed?

Sometimes homeowners are not sure if tree trimming or removal is in order. Removing a tree is a big undertaking, but may be necessary to make room for construction, or if it is diseased beyond saving. Two of the major components of tree removal include height and how complicated the job is. Basic removal consists of cutting it down, a process that involves “roping down the tree” and sawing it into manageable pieces. Sometimes hauling away the debris is included in the pricing, but other times it is a separate task for the homeowner to handle. An additional service many homeowners want is stump removal, which is surprisingly rarely included in basic tree-removal services. Stump removal requires special equipment, and the price is gauged on diameter and location. One silver lining

Can You Save That Diseased Tree?

A tree’s trouble with diseases, pests or the impact from a particularly brutal winter can have their owners wondering if they can be saved or not. Trees are, of course, living things—and living things can fall ill. Minor ailments, which are akin to human common colds, can be a damaged limb or a nascent pest infestation. However, more severe issues like trunk damage means it’s better to have a tree removed. There are many things to consider from environmental factors to age. Most tree owners don’t moonlight as arborists, so it is tough for them to tell when a tree can be saved and when it can’t. Just like you wouldn’t diagnose yourself with a serious illness (except during those late-night WebMD sessions), you also need an expert to determine just how ill a tree is. Usual

Fruit Tree Care Starts Now

Fruit tree care is important year-round, but early spring is when the bulk of the work should be done. Superior care encourages the formation of flower buds, which encourages pollination and ultimately survival. These types of trees require a little more TLC than others, and newbie owners would do well to learn methods of proper care to help ensure their tree’s health. Pruning for fruit trees varies slightly based on tree type and region, but generally begins in late February and extends to early April. Make sure to begin pruning prior to the tree’s “leafing out” period. If you completely missed the bud breaking, it might be best to wait until after summer. Summer pruning can do more harm than good. The one exception is water sprouts, which can be trimmed in the heat of summ