Can someone help me identify what the problem is with my fruit trees (see photos)? I noticed splits/cracks on the trunk a few months ago, started with my buddha hand fruit and now spread to my oranges and loquat too. I burn the affected areas but doesn't seem to help. It's spreading rapidly to my other trees. Any suggestions? Thank you.
It looks like animals may be damaging your fruit trees. Since three different species of tree are affected, and since it looks like patches of bark have been stripped off, I don't think it is a disease issue.
I am not sure what kinds of animals are common in your area, but these articles may give you some ideas for protecting your trees:
https://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fphg/wildlife-damage
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/wildlife/rabbits-and-trees-and-shrubs/
http://www.tlehcs.com/question%20of%20the%20week/archive%20questions/Wildlife/girdling%20damage.htm
Our fruit trees have young fruit on them and we have leaf curl. We sprayed just on budding but it has not helped. Can we spray now, as it has spread to all of our stone fruit trees? Thank you, Pat Inglis.
As explained in the following article, the most effective time to spray is just after the leaves have fallen in the fall, and again during the budding period:
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7426.html
The article also discusses effective fungicide products for this disease.
I inherited a couple of fruit trees. I am not sure if they are peach or apricot. They are suffering from some kind of disease which inhibits the growth of the fruit. I have been unable to identify the problem and hope that you can help.
Bacterial leaf spot caused by Xanthomonas campestris could cause the oozing gum on the surface of your fruit. Check for spots, holes, and discoloration on the leaves, as in the following article:
https://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fphg/stone/diseases/bacterial-spot
This article might also help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/apricots/apricots-stay-green-on-tree.htm
I put mulch around new planted fruit trees and covered them with black fabric for the winter. My question is about watering. Can I put the water over? If yes, how often?
Fruit trees shouldn't need to be watered during the winter in areas with cool or cold climates, because the trees will go dormant. The exception is if there is a serious drought. In that case you can remove the fabric and water the trees as needed.
Tree looks really healthy but bears no fruit. Tree is 6 years old in Venice, Fl.
We would need to know the type of fruit tree that you are referring to give specifics on care and reasons for lack of fruit.
Generally speaking lack of fruit can be due to growing conditions, lack of maturity, pollination issues, watering and nutrient problems.
We have 4 apple and 2 plum trees at the bottom of our terraced steep garden which we inherited when we moved under 2 yrs ago. We need to do something about this part of the garden. Should we try and level it and make paths (lots of work), or should we plant anything around trees for ground cover? We have recently changed the shed but any work we do in this area means carrying materials etc down a steep slope! Any suggestions would be welcomed.
I suggest that you should level it and make paths, that would make it much much easier to walk. If you plant anything around trees, the situations might get much worse.
I planted fruit trees last fall and placed plastic protection around the trunk of the tree. How long does this protection need to stay on?
You should remove the covering just after the last frost date in your area. You can look up your last frost date at your local extension service's website or on many other websites.