When is the best time to fertilize peach trees, what kind of fertilizer, how to administer?
This article will help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/peach/fertilizing-peach-trees.htm
Nice articles you have shhared Heather!!!
A reasonable manure will function admirably for your peach trees and a N-P-K, or nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium proportion of 10-10-10 will function admirably. On the off chance that you can't find 10-10-10, you could likewise utilize comparably adjusted manures like 20-20-20 and weaken it significantly.
My peaches are full of maggots and dropping off.
Is there a walnut tree nearby? It sound like it may be walnut husk flies. They primarily attack walnuts, but will also attack peaches. Here is more information: http://jenny.tfrec.wsu.edu/opm/displaySpecies.php?pn=160
The last couple of years something has eaten my immature peaches off my peach tree. There are no remains left. . . no evidence, not even on the ground. I assume that it would either be a gray squirrel or a deer. How could I prevent this in the future?
I would guess a deer is the culprit. These articles will help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/deer/deer-repellents.htm
And just in case it is not:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/get-rid-squirrels.htm
I just got my house about two years ago and my two peach trees have leaf curl. I've read that it is a fungus and a few ways to cure it, but they all sound pretty toxic, even the organic methods. Any suggestions?
Peach tree leaf curl is a common fungal disease among these fruit trees. Prevention is the best form of attack against the disease, however. Once your tree has developed leaf curl, it is difficult to save your peach harvest. Unfortunately, fungicide will not kill this disease. Prune off diseased portions of the tree and try to thin out the number of peaches you have on the tree. Also, clean up any debris that may have fallen. In late fall, you can treat with a fixed copper fungicide to try and prevent the re-occurrence of the disease.
While it is often deemed to be less effective than fixed copper products, lime sulphur is an acceptable form of organic control for this disease. Here is an article that you may find helpful as well: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/peach/peach-leaf-curl.htm
How do you prune a peach tree, newly planted?
Anytime you have a newly planted tree, you want to give it a year to establish itself before pruning it. You want the tree to put its energy towards growing roots so it can be healthy. If you prune it before it is established, it will put energy towards healing itself and this will make it more susceptible to disease and pests.
peach tree is now blooming w/fruit. need to know how to keep the fruit growing
This article has a section on fertilizing peaches:
https://extension.missouri.edu/p/g6030
I would also recommend reading the section on thinning fruit for better quality peaches.
Will the frost affect the buds on the peach tree? If so, should they be covered with plastic?
No plants should be covered in plastic, as this could do more harm than good. Instead opt for an old sheet, blanket, or burlap sack...something that breathes.