Peach trees need protection from cold temperatures, pests and disease.
A tree-ripened, home-grown peach tastes nothing like commercial peaches, picked green and trucked for miles. Before you plant a peach tree in your yard, though, consider the growing requirements of peach trees. Peach trees thrive in mild climates with warm summers and moderately cool winters. They produce fruit unreliably north of USDA plant hardiness zone 6, because cold winter temperatures kill the buds and late spring frosts kill the blossoms. They are also subject to many pests and diseases. Without a good pest-management program, homeowners will likely be disappointed with the quality of their peach harvest. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Cold Temperatures
1. Plant the peach tree in full sun, in a north or northeastern location. Peach blooming is delayed when the tree is placed in a northern location, minimizing the chances of blossom kill if a late spring frost occurs. Choose the top of a slope for the peach tree if possible, so cold air drains away from it.
2. Place a 4-inch layer of wood chip or compost mulch around the base of the tree, starting 6 inches from the trunk and spreading 3 feet out. This mulch protects the tree from moisture loss and weed growth. In the winter, mulches stabilize soil temperatures and minimize heaving when the soil freezes and thaws repeatedly.
3. Wrap the peach tree in burlap when temperatures drop below 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pests and Diseases
4. Wrap the canopy of the tree in bird netting to prevent the birds from destroying the crop. Tie the netting securely around the trunk of the tree.
5. Consult a county extension office for information on pests and diseases that affect peaches in your area. Diseases and pests vary widely by region, but brown rot, bacterial shot and peach canker are common.
6. Spray peach trees based on the recommendations of a local expert. Generally, peach trees are sprayed in early spring with a dormant oil spray or a fungicide.
Tags: peach tree, late spring, pests diseases