The care of peach trees is a relatively simple to do once you get the hang of it, but there is more to growing peach trees then just putting the tree in the ground. There is no other perfect way to get fresh peaches then to have your own peach trees.
The first thing to do is make sure that you get a healthy tree. Get your tree from a nursery. They will be able to guarantee that you have a healthy tree that is free of any peach tree diseases. Look for a tree that is free of any black spots, broken limbs or damaged roots.
Once you have your tree there are a few other things to consider. First, where you want to plant the tree. Most peach trees require full sun. Find a place in the sun that has good drainage. Next, when to plant the tree. You want to plant your new tree in the winter or early spring months. Your tree will be dormant so there will be less stress to it.
Once the planting site is decided, dig a hole that will hold the entire root ball. Two products to look into are Fertilome’s Root Stimulator and Myke Tree and Shrub for care of peach trees. These will add important nutrients that will help establish a healthy root system which is crucial to a good peach harvest. Cover the root ball completely and water well.
Pruning peach trees is important to making strong healthy trees. There are a few things to keep in mind when you begin pruning your tree. You want to keep all of the 18-24″ red offshoots. These will be what produce the fruit. Remove all dead, gray shoots and suckers. Also, remember the best time to prune is very early spring. When you prune peach trees your goal is to remove about 40% of the tree which will make the tree stronger and open the center of the tree to improve air circulation. Improved air circulation will cut down on peach tree disease.
Now that your tree is off to a good start, continue with annual pruning and watch for disease. Keep an eye on the leaves and the fruit. Those will be one of the first indicators of disease. If the leaves begin to curl or the fruit has brown spots take a sample of the leaves or the fruit into your local garden center. They will be the best ones to diagnose the problems that you might be having and get you what you need to fix it.
Growing your own peach tree is an incredible accomplishment and will provide you with years of enjoyment and fresh fruit.
Once you have peaches growing, be sure to check out our Fresh Peach Recipes for creative ideas.
