I want a fruit...& maybe a nut tree - Now What?

 Selecting fruit trees to grow in your yard or orchard depends on several factors:  available space, height and width restrictions, soil type, exposure to good light and air circulation, preferred type of fruit, type of root-stock, and much more. 

The first step is to plan. 

·         The following factors should be considered as you plan: 

• Climate zone
• Soil type and pH
• Location and surrounding landscaping
• 
  Drainage
• Overhead restrictions (power lines, other trees, shading)
• Width restrictions (fences, buildings property lines)
• Underground restrictions (sewer/power/telephone lines, septic tanks or drain fields, layers of poor soil, wells)
• Irrigation and fertilizing
• Time needed for tree care
• Pruning
• Harvesting
• Spraying

Selection of the trees is one of the most important steps. 

There are several great resources to help you select a tree for your yard.

The Pacific Northwest Handbooks publication EC 819, Growing Tree Fruits and Nuts in the Home Orchard  The Treasure Valley is Area II in this publication.

Other factors to consider are: 

•          Choose a reliable nursery with appropriate stock selected for this area
•          Choice of fruit
•          Varieties of chosen fruit that grow best in this region 
•          Dwarf or semi-dwarf root stock
•          Bare root, ball and burlap (B&B), or containerized stock
•         Need of a pollinator or self-pollinator,
•          Blooming and harvest times
•          Pests – insects, birds, or disease resistant

To maintain a strong tree or orchard, time must be given towards tree health.   There are numerous publications from Extension Services through the University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Oregon State University to assist you with your specific trees.

https://youtu.be/_YqQPtsC-eA

The following are important items to consider toward maintaining a vigorous home fruit tree:

•          Training of tree branches
•         Thinning and pruning
•          Irrigation needs
•          Fertilization needs
•          Insect and disease control
•          Weed 
•          Rodent control

A backyard fruit tree or orchard is a wonderful addition to your landscaping.  Be sure to choose trees that are compatible to your region, soil, and property.  With the proper selection, you can enjoy fruit from your backyard trees for many years to come.                                 

I WANT A FRUIT TREE. NOW WHAT?

Selecting fruit trees to grow in your yard or orchard depends on several factors:  available space, height and width restrictions, soil type, exposure to good light and air circulation, preferred type of fruit, type of root-stock, and much more. 

The first step is to plan. 

·         The following factors should be considered as you plan: 

• Climate zone,
• Soil type and pH,
• Location and surrounding landscaping,
  
• Drainage,
• Overhead restrictions (power lines, other trees, shading),
• Width restrictions (fences, buildings, property lines),
• Underground restrictions (sewer/power/telephone lines, septic tanks or drain fields, layers of poor soil, wells),
• Irrigation and fertilizing,
• Time needed for tree care,
• Pruning,
• Harvesting,
• Spraying.

Selection of the trees is one of the most important steps. 

There are several great resources to help you select a tree for your yard.
The Pacific Northwest Handbooks publication EC 819, Growing Tree Fruits and Nuts in the Home Orchard
The Treasure Valley is Area II in this publication.

Other factors to consider are: 

•          Choose a reliable nursery with appropriate stock selected for this area,
•          Choice of fruit,
•          Varieties of chosen fruit that grow best in this region, 
•          Dwarf or semi-dwarf root stock,
•          Bare root, ball and burlap (B&B), or containerized stock,
•         Need of a pollinator or self-pollinator,
•          Blooming and harvest times,
•          Pests – insects, birds, or disease resistant.

To maintain a strong tree or orchard, time must be given towards tree health.   There are numerous publications from Extension Services through the University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Oregon State University to assist you with your specific trees.

https://youtu.be/_YqQPtsC-eA

The following are important items to consider toward maintaining a vigorous home fruit tree:

•          Training of tree branches,
•         Thinning and pruning,
•          Irrigation needs,
•          Fertilization needs,
•          Insect and disease control,
•          Weed 
•          Rodent control.

Click for more fruit tree information 

This helpful publication below is specific to the Treasure Valley. It can be obtained free of charge from the University of Idaho Extension Services offices in Canyon County (208) 459-6003.

In summary, a backyard fruit tree or orchard is a wonderful addition to your landscaping.  Be sure to choose trees that are compatible to your region, soil, and property.  With the proper selection, you can enjoy fruit from your backyard trees for many years to come.

                       

                       

Early start this year for Turf and Tree Team

Our 2018 Tree and Turf team

With above average temperatures in the valley this early Spring, the local trees and plants are getting head start on their growing season. With that in mind, the newly combined Turf and Tree team of Master Gardeners from Univ. of Idaho Canyon County Extension office is getting its earliest start to the new year.  

We now have higher than normal volume from area residents giving us a call as well as emailing the team with their questions and concerns.

The new team got started back in early March with series of turf training classes taught by local University educator Rich Guggenheim. 

New sod being cut and rolled up

We followed the training classes up with field trip out to local DG turf farm. There, the owner, John went through what it takes to run a turf farm and different varieties of turf he has available.                         

     

Middleton fruit tree visit

With the classes and field trip behind us, we were all eager to get started. We had our first site visit out to Middleton to visit a local resident that had many questions about her recently planted fruit trees. She had many questions from watering schedules, to proper pruning and when to start fertilizing. We spent a good couple hour answering her questions and looking at each of her 20 trees individually for any unique issues or problems.  

    

     

The affected spruce tree

After the Middleton visit, we made dash down to south Nampa to another site to check out some Spruces that were feeling the blues. The owner had several Spruces that appeared to have dieback that was impacting his trees. The team took several pictures and small clipping samples from couple of trees to take back to office/lab for further evaluation. What's wrong with my trees blog Part 1

Here's Part 2 - The following Monday, the Turf/Tree team started investigating possible causes to Spruce tree impact including hooking up microscope to take closer look at needles. We also used several University “.edu” web sites looking for clues. During our search a new client walked in extension office door with very similar problem with her Spruce trees.  After giving her what we believe was the answer to the problem with her Spruce trees Rhizosphaera Needle Cast, we were also able to answer other questions she had on turf maintenance and how to get rid of gophers. We put together an email detailing each of her issues that was found thru Penn State and Colorado State Extension web sites. She seemed thrilled at the quick response to all her questions and concerns...and she left with a smile.

Well this next week doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down at all. We have several emails requesting more information from several new clients needing help with their trees and lawns. We are doing site visits to conduct LISA for a 20$ fee (Lawn Irrigation System Audit) if you have concerns about your lawn. Looks like we're going to have really busy summer.  So, till next month, keep on pruning.