General Information

• Scroll down or click on any month for plant care instructions
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

  January 1. Buy Buy bareroot trees in the nursery or online. 2. Plant Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. 3. Prune If not done last month, prune when dormant. Cut off 2/3 of the previous year's growth. Head back each branch to 1/3, or remove two of every three branches formed, or cut out some and head back others.

  February 1. Buy Buy bareroot trees in the nursery or online. 2. Plant Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. 3. Prune If not done last month, prune when dormant. Cut off 2/3 of the previous year's growth. Head back each branch to 1/3, or remove two of every three branches formed, or cut out some and head back others.

  March 1. Buy Buy bareroot trees in the nursery or online. 2. Plant Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. 3. Fertilize Feed once with an organic fertilizer designed for fruit trees. 4. Water During fruit development, keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water weekly in the absence of rainfall. 5. Mulch Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. 6. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for peach leaf curl and brown rot. Peach leaf curl causes curling, thickening and puckering of new leaves. Brown rot is characterized by flowers wilting and dying and twigs breaking and releasing sap. 7. Treat for Pest/Disease Control peach leaf curl and brown rot by spraying with a fixed lime sulfur or copper spray just as buds begin to swell. 8. Special requirements Encourage the development of large fruit, by thinning fruit when it is 1-inch wide, spacing remaining fruit 8 to 10 inches apart.

  April 1. Buy Buy potted up trees in the nursery or online. 2. Plant Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. 3. Fertilize Feed once with an organic fertilizer designed for fruit trees. 4. Water During fruit development, keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water weekly in the absence of rainfall. 5. Mulch Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. 6. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for peach leaf curl, brown rot and peach tree borer. Peach leaf curl causes curling, thickening and puckering of new leaves. Brown rot is characterized by flowers wilting and dying and twigs breaking and releasing sap. The first sign of peach tree borers is a jelly-like substance at the base of the tree. 7. Treat for Pest/Disease Control peach leaf curl and brown rot by spraying with a fixed lime sulfur or copper spray just as buds begin to swell. 8. Special requirements Encourage the development of large fruit, by thinning fruit when it is 1-inch wide, spacing remaining fruit 8 to 10 inches apart.

  May 1. Buy Buy potted up trees in the nursery or online. 2. Plant Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. 3. Fertilize Feed once with an organic fertilizer designed for fruit trees. 4. Water During fruit development, keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water once or twice a week in the absence of rainfall. 5. Mulch Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. 6. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for peach tree borer. The first sign of peach tree borer is a jelly-like substance at the base of the tree. 7. Treat for Pest/Disease Control peach tree borer by spraying mid-month the infected trunk with the appropriate pesticide. 8. Harvest Harvest when the fruit darkens and the flesh gives slightly to touch.

  June 1. Fertilize Feed once with an organic fertilizer designed for fruit trees. 2. Water During fruit development, keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water twice a week. 3. Mulch Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. 4. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for peach tree borer. The first sign of peach tree borer is a jelly-like substance at the base of the tree. 5. Harvest Harvest when the fruit darkens and the flesh gives slightly to touch.

  July 1. Water Keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water twice a week. 2. Mulch Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. 3. Treat for Pest/Disease Control peach tree borer by spraying mid-month the infected trunk with the appropriate pesticide. 4. Harvest Harvest when the fruit darkens and the flesh gives slightly to touch.

  August 1. Water Keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water twice a week. 2. Mulch Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line.

  September 1. Water Keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water twice a week. 2. Mulch Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line.

  October 1. Water Keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water once a week. 2. Mulch Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line.

  November 1. Treat for Pest/Disease Control peach leaf curl and brown rot by spraying with a fixed lime sulfur or copper spray once right after leaf drop, and remove all fallen leaves from the area.

  December 1. Prune Prune when dormant. Cut off 2/3 of the previous year's growth. Head back each branch to 1/3, or remove two of every three branches formed, or cut out some and head back others.

• Buy When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share! January Buy bareroot trees in the nursery or online. February Buy bareroot trees in the nursery or online. March Buy bareroot trees in the nursery or online. April Buy potted up trees in the nursery or online. May Buy potted up trees in the nursery or online.

  Plant When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions? January Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. February Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. March Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. April Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage. May Plant in a sunny location that has excellent drainage.

  Fertilize When should you fertilize this plant? Which kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Should you use different fertilizers at different times of year? March Feed once with an organic fertilizer designed for fruit trees. April Feed once with an organic fertilizer designed for fruit trees. May Feed once with an organic fertilizer designed for fruit trees. June Feed once with an organic fertilizer designed for fruit trees.

  Water Is there a time to reduce or increase watering? Any special requirements? Things to avoid during certain times of the year? March During fruit development, keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water weekly in the absence of rainfall. April During fruit development, keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water weekly in the absence of rainfall. May During fruit development, keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water once or twice a week in the absence of rainfall. June During fruit development, keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water twice a week. July Keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water twice a week. August Keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water twice a week. September Keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water twice a week. October Keep the soil around the base of the tee and out to the drip-line moist, but not soggy. Water once a week.

  Prune When's a good time to prune this plant? How about deadheading, pinching back, trimming or any other grooming? Any special requirements? January If not done last month, prune when dormant. Cut off 2/3 of the previous year's growth. Head back each branch to 1/3, or remove two of every three branches formed, or cut out some and head back others. February If not done last month, prune when dormant. Cut off 2/3 of the previous year's growth. Head back each branch to 1/3, or remove two of every three branches formed, or cut out some and head back others. December Prune when dormant. Cut off 2/3 of the previous year's growth. Head back each branch to 1/3, or remove two of every three branches formed, or cut out some and head back others.

  Mulch Does this plant need to be mulched? Are there specific types of Mulch which are better for this plant? How much? March Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. April Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. May Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. June Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. July Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. August Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. September Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line. October Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark around the base of the tree and out to the drip-line.

  Pest/Disease Inspection What are the common problems this plant will face and when should you look for them to appear? March Check for peach leaf curl and brown rot. Peach leaf curl causes curling, thickening and puckering of new leaves. Brown rot is characterized by flowers wilting and dying and twigs breaking and releasing sap. April Check for peach leaf curl, brown rot and peach tree borer. Peach leaf curl causes curling, thickening and puckering of new leaves. Brown rot is characterized by flowers wilting and dying and twigs breaking and releasing sap. The first sign of peach tree borers is a jelly-like substance at the base of the tree. May Check for peach tree borer. The first sign of peach tree borer is a jelly-like substance at the base of the tree. June Check for peach tree borer. The first sign of peach tree borer is a jelly-like substance at the base of the tree.

  Treat for Pest/Disease How do you treat the common problems for this plant? What products or concoctions or natural means do you use? Any special requirements? March Control peach leaf curl and brown rot by spraying with a fixed lime sulfur or copper spray just as buds begin to swell. April Control peach leaf curl and brown rot by spraying with a fixed lime sulfur or copper spray just as buds begin to swell. May Control peach tree borer by spraying mid-month the infected trunk with the appropriate pesticide. July Control peach tree borer by spraying mid-month the infected trunk with the appropriate pesticide. November Control peach leaf curl and brown rot by spraying with a fixed lime sulfur or copper spray once right after leaf drop, and remove all fallen leaves from the area.

  Harvest When's a good time to harvest this plant? What's the best way to harvest? Are there special requirements or features? May Harvest when the fruit darkens and the flesh gives slightly to touch. June Harvest when the fruit darkens and the flesh gives slightly to touch. July Harvest when the fruit darkens and the flesh gives slightly to touch.

  Special requirements Any other requirement for this plant? Is there anything that doesn't fit into the other care categories? March Encourage the development of large fruit, by thinning fruit when it is 1-inch wide, spacing remaining fruit 8 to 10 inches apart. April Encourage the development of large fruit, by thinning fruit when it is 1-inch wide, spacing remaining fruit 8 to 10 inches apart.