Apricot Minimal pruning in summer after harvest. Don t take off the spurs, and leave some of that year s growth so it produces fruit the following year. Make sure secateurs are cleaned with methylated spirits prior to making any cuts. Fruits on 1 year old wood plus spurs. When fruiting hand thin the fruit to garner a better quality crop and minimise weight stress on branches. Common Pests & Disease Fruit Fly Increase habitats for predators, such as ants, ground beetles, spiders and birds. Clean up all infected fruit as soon as possible. To destroy the maggots, immerse fruit in water or a black plastic bag in the sun and then dispose. To prevent fruit fly, exclusion bags are the most effective organic method see greenharvest.com.au for a good range of products. Fungal diseases - Spray with organic fungicide in autumn as leaves fall, then in winter as the flower buds swell. This controls brown rot, leaf curl, and scab. Birds net against birds before fruit ripens. Can support nets with 4 star pickets pegged into the soil around the outer drip line of the tree and large diameter flexible hose crossing over the top of the trees in an X, sheathing the tops of the star pickets.
Cherry Minimal pruning in summer after harvest. Make sure secateurs are cleaned with methylated spirits prior to making any cuts. Fruits on 1-2 year old wood plus spurs. Prune only in clear weather, preferably with a breeze to aid the healing of cuts. Pear & cherry slug spray leaves with a solution of 1T hydrated lime (very fine powder) to 1L water which will leave lime residue on the leaves which will desiccate the slugs need to reapply after rain or monthly intervals. You can also dust with wood ash over leaves. Bacterial Canker Shown as limb distortions and copious sap bleeding. To avoid this very common disease, only prune during dry weather and minimise pruning where possible. If bacterial canker is present, prune out infected areas and dispose of in a plastic bag (not in compost due to potential spread). Birds see Apricots Pear Prune to reduce height, leave the fruiting spurs (thin if necessary to a spacing of 200mm). Fruit is mostly produced on second year and older wood and spurs. Watershoot growth is common and can be pruned out at any time. Pear & cherry slug see Cherry. Fruit Fly & Birds see Apricot Codling Moth use nylon sockettes for exclusion (see greenharvest.com.au), pheromone lures & traps, horticultural glue around the trunk to prevent larvae climbing up the tree and support beneficial insect populations with flowering plants. Apple & Pear Scab - see control for fungal diseases on Apricot. Worsened through wet and humid weather and stressed trees.
Lemon Prune mid to late Spring after the frost danger has passed. Skirt prune to raise canopy and stop leaves touching the ground and getting diseased. Prune out internal facing and crossing branches. Prune to a manageable height. Scale There are many different types of scale, all of which will respond to the same treatment. Spray with Eco-Oil when first detected and repeat at manufacturer directions. Support beneficial insect populations with flowering plants. Citrus Orchard Butterfly hand removal of caterpillars when visible inspect tree carefully when you can see large areas of chewing damage. Bronze orange and Stink Bugs hand removal by knocking off into a bucket of water with a drop or two of detergent. Inspect for them when you notice die back of new shoots.
Peach & Nectarine Prune in summer after harvest. Fruits on previous years wood so pruning is required each year to assure a good crop without the tree growing too large. Shorten branches by 1/3 to ½. Pests & Disease Oriental fruit moth seen as growing tips that wilt and die. Cut off and burn any infested twigs early in the season. Do this as soon as wilting occurs and remove about 200 mm from the tip. Pheromone traps and dipel can help in the control of OFM. Support beneficial insect populations with flowering plants. Green vegetable bugs (treat as for stink bugs lemon) Scale treat as for lemon with Eco-Oil. Fungal diseases treat with a lime sulphur or copper based fungicide in dormancy and at bud swell. Fungicides will help control black spot European Red Mite, San Jose Scale Mites and Leaf Curl.
Pineapple Guava/Feijoa Prune in Spring to thin out the density, remove weak and damaged branches, maintain shape and allow for lots of new growth. Feijoa bear fruit on the tips of new growth so prune early in the season. Pests & disease Fruit fly treat as for Apricots. Scale treat with Eco-Oil. Sooty Mould (this is a direct result of scale and needs only to be scrubbed off the branches and leaves. Plums Minimal pruning in summer after harvest. Don t take off the spurs, and leave some of that year s growth so it produces fruit the following year. Plums fruit on one-year-old wood, older wood and commonly form spurs too. Almonds Prune to reduce height, leaving the fruiting spurs. Almonds fruit on spurs and sprigs that are semi-permanent.