Need fruit tree advice

[wasabi]

We're about to plant 24 fruit trees on a south facing slope that has recently been cleared of second growth. Question is, is it wrth the minor trouble to terrace between the rows (five rows) to make a sort of level roadway for spraying, etc, or just go with the slope of the land which I estimate it to be about 20 degrees...(don't get me started with that grade vs. degree stuff you guys!) Any insights would be appreciated.

[mbsil]

I would think that terracing would help prevent erosion of your soil as well as provide a path for the tractor/sprayer/fertilizer.

[Dozernut]

Good luck! I think your going to find the deer Are going to create havoc on your fruit trees. We planted several apple, cherry, domestic persimmon, Hiccan, heartnut, pecan, white ash, you name it and we have planted it. The deer have decimated all but a few trees. We have tried hair, soaps, sprays, witch doctors [img]/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif[/img]and other methods. A dog works the best. Not trying to dampen your hopes, just giving you a heads up on what to expect. Deer hunting is a fun sport![img]/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Buster57]

I have 150 Asian pear trees on 3 acres. They are on a very steep slope. I did not terrace them.
We are organically certified so we have not sprayed since I planted the trees in 1988.
As for the deer, nothing will really keep them out unless you have your property fenced in and you have a couple dogs.
I don't mind loosing some pears to the deer-what gets my goat is when they eat my expensive bamboo!
I only hunt the mighty gopher so I would never use my 300 mag or my M-14 on the deer, but I get plenty mad anyway!

[Carl_NH]

Wasabi,

If you have deep topsoil and can space the trees apart enough, terracing would make life easier. However most don't have the luxury of 2' of topsoil, and I doubt on a sloping hillside you will find this either.

Also, grading this much will likely cause washouts and root exposure to some trees especially if you have tight spacing between the rows.

Maybe consider planting them evenly spaced so you have an option to mow/drive between the rows up/down or across the sloping hill side at an angle.

Carl

[JeffRey30747]

The thing that I have found that will protect fruit trees from deer is a 4' square fence of 5' to 6' chicken wire immediately around the tree. They can't get through the wire because of the fine mesh and they can't jump it because there isn't an open area for them to land in on the other side. It does grow up rather quickly on the inside, but mulch helps prevent that.

[mbsil]

I saw an old gardener's remedy for deer once on TV.

Mix 1 dozen eggs in a bucket with 5 gals. water. Mix thoroughly. Pour in to pump sprayer and spray onto the plants to be protected.

The deer will avoid the area due to the smell of the eggs which they apparently hate. You must reapply after it rains.

[Chuck52]

I was wondering if there's not some kind of ground cover you might plant that would not require frequent mowing. I've put in a few pecan trees and plan to plant more. In my reading, I found that some commercial pecan growers plant clover between rows of trees, which supplies nitrogen to the trees and, maybe for some clover types, doesn't require as much mowing. I am planting my fruit trees, all semi-dwarf, in mulched rows, so that I only have to mow between the rows. At some point, I may try getting clover established between the rows. BTW, to make the mulched rows easily, I would now use my 60" tiller to till under the sod first. I did that for a road screen of hazelnuts. Then I had my son slowly drive the pickup loaded with mulch straddling the strip while I raked mulch off. We did a 200' strip that way very quickly and easily. Then we put in the trees. Beat the heck out of mulching afterwards.

Chuck

[Henry]

Here's a really great guide for small-scale fruit production produced by the Penn State Ag Department.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/>http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/</A>

I've found it to be a pretty good read.

Henry

[wasabi]

Thanks to all for the tips.

Dozer, the deer are a background concern, but the area has been heavily hunted for years and sometimes reminds us of "silent spring". We see turkey and grouse, but not much sign of deer. Actually, we see as much bear sign as we do deer sign! [img]/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif[/img] They are not a concern until the trees get bigger....I've heard stories of bears decimating small orchards and vineyards. We're hoping to keep the deer away long enough to allow the trees to grow beyond sapling status. Also hope to eventually glean some venison from our land, but initially may have to hunt elsewhere.

Got dog!....Ridgeback/yellow lab mix.....picture to follow.

Chuck, I really like your mulching idea. Would like to adopt it, with full credit to you as originator, of course.[img]/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif[/img] I too have been thinking about the nitro-fixing clovers...have heard of orchard grass....I think a mixture is basically in order here.

Carl NH, We've been clearing the area and in the process dug a six foot trench to burn the tops, limbs and roots. The good looking soil is nearly five feet deep, with very few rocks. Go figure! Rows will be fifteen feet apart, trees same spacing.

Buster, I'm rethinking terracing idea, leaning toward Carl's suggestion of keeping both across and up/down options open.

MBSIL, Good idea on the eggs...thanks...coming up with a workable concoction is a good excuse to brush up the old alchemy skills. [img]/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif[/img]

JeffRey, hope not to have to fence off trees, but if and when....your idea sounds logical...will use it!

Henry, the Penn State link is great stuff. Thanks!