Ask Burton?

Q: My peach trees are starting their fourth year in the ground this spring. I had what felt like every bug and rot possible on them last year, and only a handful of the crops were useful. How do I stay ahead of it this year?

A: Good news! You’re thinking about this at the right time.

Start with proper pruning. Crop back whip-thin long branches and establish a well-spaced canopy of branches that are not rubbing or tangled, allowing adequate airflow around the fruit and making it easier to keep your developing fruit free of disease.

After you’ve done that, it’s time to spray dormant oil on the entire bark surface of the tree any day with temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees. Dormant oil will kill overwintering pests and eggs on the tree and ensure you start with a cleaner slate this spring. Treat anytime in the next few weeks, but definitely before you see the buds begin to swell.

Another good move is to spray the entire tree sometime around mid-February with copper fungicide. Doing this will help prevent peach leaf curl and discourage some of the rots your fruit dealt with early in the season.

There’s more to do, but those simple steps done early will make everything else far easier.