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Getting Your Trees Ready for Spring

SHADE AND ORNAMENTAL TREES
            Pruning—Prune most trees in winter just before spring growth begins.  Oak trees should be pruned in deep winter or the heat of summer when insects are least likely to be active to minimize the chances of oak wilt infection.  Spray all cuts immediately with paint, varnish, pruning sealer or brush with basic glue like Elmer’s to cover the wound until the tree can seal it. 
            Fertilizer—Fertilize in late winter before spring growth begins.  Tree growth is most influenced by nitrogen.  Using a basic lawn fertilizer is fine but NEVER use Weed and Feed products. 
Mature trees--Fertilize on the basis of the size of the canopy.  Apply 1 to 2lbs of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of canopy.  Calculate the canopy by measuring a square around the canopy.  Use this table to calculate the amount of nitrogen you need and the amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer you are considering:       
                                     to get 1 lb. of N apply                       to get 2lb of N apply
                                     this many lbs. per                             this many lbs. per
                                     1000 sqft canopy                             1000 sqft canopy     
Ammonium sulfate    (21-0-0)             5 lbs.                                       10 lbs.
Bat guano                  (10-0-0)          10 lbs.                                       20 lbs.
Blood meal                (14-0-0)             7 lbs.                                       14 lbs.
Urea                          (45-0-0)             2 lbs.                                         4 lbs.
 
Water thoroughly! Or wait until right before a good rain of at least .25 inches
 
                        Young Trees—Small trees respond well to small amounts of fertilizer applied frequently.  Mix 1 to 2 tsp ammonium sulfate per gallon of water and drench with 2 to 4 gallons around the tree at the drip line (but watch for brown tips as a signal of fertilizer burn).
 
 
FRUIT TREES (except citrus)
 
            Pruning—Prune fruit trees during the bloom. Pruning stimulates trees to bloom and if done before the tree would normally bloom it can lead to premature bloom which can be lost to late frost.  Wait until the tree is ready to begin its bloom on its own.  It will also help you see how heavy the prune needs to be.
 
            Fertilizer—Pay special attention to fertilization to support the tree through its crop.  Peach trees are particularly needy.  Apply fruit and nut tree fertilizer in split applications at late bloom and late June. For detailed information on specific nutrients, I recommend the Texas Peach Handbook by Stein and Kamas.  Most of the detail there is applicable to most fruit trees.  But pay special attention to zinc and iron on your fruit trees.  Iron should be applied as a chelated product such as Ironite and even seemly iron rich red soils can have little available iron.  Zinc should be applied as a chelate very early in the growing season.  Sulfur is often deficient in acid soil.  Check your fruit and nut tree fertilizer for these important elements.
 
            Orchard Floor management—Reducing competition through weed control is more important with crop trees than you realize.  Keep grass and weeds away from trees and out from under the tree canopies.  Herbicide is the most efficient method to control this but you can also use mulch to control grass and weeds. If using herbicide, wrap the base of the tree with plastic or foil to keep the spray off the base of the tree. 
 
            Water, Water, Water—Fruit is mostly water and your tree will need a lot of it to complete its fruit.  A peach tree for example needs 50 gallons of water a week to support its fruit production.
 
            Dormant Oil spray—Dormant oil sprays can be used to control overwintering populations of insects which can severely affect your tree’s ability to make its crop.  Find dormant oil sprays at your nursery and apply as directed.  Do NOT apply dormant oil sprays after bud break.  
 
Special note to citrus—fertilize your citrus in early spring as new growth appears.