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What to do, what to do...
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Posted by moby_dog77 Alpine, CA (My Page) on Wed, Nov 4, 09 at 21:16
| I just bought a house on 2.5 acres just east of San Diego. The house, but more importantly, the trees have been very neglected for somewhere between 6 months and a year. Some trees are dead already and some are doing just fine. But some need some attention quick and I'm not sure where to start. The ones that are looking particularly sad are the citrus, peach, apple, avocado and cherimoya. The macadamias, walnuts and olives are doing fine. Many have limbs that are completely bare and what leaves they have left are curled and dehydrated. There is a naval orange tree that is covered in fruit but they are small and the rinds are splitting. I have started watering them and pruning dead branches but I am wondering if this is the correct course of action. Maybe pruning will leave them vulnerable during the winter where it will get frost occasionally. Maybe I am watering them wrong. I set up an irrigation system of 1/2" and 1/4" hose on a timer but I don't know how often or for how long they should be watered. I don't want to rot the roots or start a fungus problem, afterall, these trees are used to a warm, dry climate but they do need water. So any advice on this would be very appreciated by myself and the trees. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What to do, what to do...
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| Right now you just need to water enough to wet the soil 2-3 ft deep. If your soil is shallow you might need to water every two wks this winter but more likely once a month will do. Next summer apply about 2 inches every week. You can't drown the roots unless you water frequently, like every day, and your soil drains poorly. Right now I'd only prune off dead limbs. Wait until you see how the trees are growing before you do any drastic pruning. The Fruitnut |
RE: What to do, what to do...
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RE: What to do, what to do...
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And I have learned from personal experience that you need to water citrus far less often than peaches and apples. My citrus leaves started turning yellow from too much water when I was watering mine all at the same time. I learned to let the soil dry out with the citrus, almost until their leaves droop. You also would want to fertilize the citrus now (every season change. I've had good results with "Citrus-Tone" fertilizer.
The apple and peach should be going dormant for the winter soon, so just minimal water should be fine until spring.
Cherimoya--can't help you there, I have no idea, and I don't even know anyone who has grown them. Sorry! Maybe a local nursery can offer advice on those. Carla in Sac |
RE: What to do, what to do...
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| I know that axel_sc grows cherimoya. He helped me find a nursery to purchase one from. |
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