Fruit and Nut trees

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Fruit & Nut Trees

Taking care of our established trees

The fig tree

The fig tree is about 15 years old, but it suffered a pretty big set back in the 2021 freeze, so I am going to try to help it recover better for next year. This year it has already grown out in a crazy pattern and is way too tall in some places to even reach the figs. Also, the squirrels have direct access from the roof to get the figs.

THE PLAN

Feed it in early June, Sept, Jan, and March with Dr. Earth Natural Wonder Fruit Tree Fertilizer.

After cleaning the pruning shears with alcohol. Prune it back in January to a manageable size. We need to be able to reach the fruit and cover it with a net. Choose 5-6 branches for fruiting and then cut the rest off. It also needs to be small enough that the squirrels can’t just jump into the top of the tree from the roof or another tree.

Prune off any branches at less than 45 degrees to fruiting branches.

Prune off any branches coming from the base of the tree. They will not fruit and only take energy from the tree.

Each January/Feb the main fruiting branches can be pruned back to 1/3 or 1/4 their size.

IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN

June 3, 2022 - I fed the tree 1.5 cups of fertilizer below after diluting it in a bucket. (NOTE: The dogs were trying to eat it, so make sure that it is diluted all of the way next time.)

June 5, 2022 - I pruned all of the non-fruit bearing branches, most of the deadwood, and a couple of the fruit bearing branches that were very high. The lower branches were netted loosely, but I am not sure it will keep the squirrels out. The plan is to prune it into a manageable size in January/February so that it can be totally netted. Hopefully this will help with all of the young fruit that is already showing on the tree.

There are some small figs (about a half inch and very green) that are on each of the branches that are left. Not a huge amount, but some.

The pecan tree

2022 - The pecan tree is about 20 years old, but is not as large as most of our neighbors’ trees that are the same age. It is shaded from most of the morning sun by another tree in our yard. This tree rarely produces any nuts and if it does produce a few, the squirrels eat them green! (Ugh!)

For pollination it looks like I need another type of pecan to pollinate my tree. I would bet that all of my neighbors’ trees are the exact same type of pecan tree, which will not act as pollinators.

THE PLAN

Feed the tree in June, Sept, Jan, and March with Dr. Earth Natural Wonder Fruit Tree Fertilizer. The circumference (measured around the base) of the the tree this year is 34 inches. The directions from the fertilizer says 1 cup for every inch of tree diameter (a line across the center) so I need to take 34 inches / 3.14 (pi) and I will get about 10-11 cups. The bag I have is 4 lbs, but I don’t think it is 10 cups, plus I need some for the fig tree. (I need to order a bigger bag for Sept.)

I need to identify the type of pecan tree that we have so I can get the right cultivar (pollinator). According to my research, a type 1 pecan tree needs a type 2 pecan tree for pollination and since I think all of the pecan trees in the neighborhood are the same, I might need a different kind. The tree and its pollinator also need to be within 150 feet of each other. There is at least one pecan tree about 150 feet away, but it may be the exact kind as mine. Some of my neighbors do get pecans, although we rarely get any.

The last thing we need to do is to trim the nearby tree in our yard to let the pecan tree get a bit more sun.

IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN

June 3, 2022 - I fed the entire contents of the fertilizer (minus 1.5 cups for the fig tree) around the base of the canopy. I watered it thoroughly and within 24 hours had a nice rain to soak it in further.