Well, I've got pruning on my mind. My fruit trees; apple, peach, plum, nectarine and pear trees and blueberry bushes need serious pruning. I actually thought I was late in doing this, but what luck!, I actually need to do it now. During their dormant cycle, late winter is when they should be pruned. Since we're in central Florida, and we don't have a winter in the typical sense, I'm thinking my new pruning sheers need some use and soon.
No more than one-third of their new growth, and anything dead, broken or heading in the wrong direction. This is the only way fruit trees will actually produce more, and better quality fruits. Did you know there's a science to this art? Removing large branches need three cuts; out about 6-8 inches from the trunk of the tree you need to cut the branch from the bottom going about half way up, then down from the top of the branch. The last cut, just slightly out, about 2" or so from the trunk, one single cut from the top down, at a slight angle. There are plenty of videos and articles out on the web for review. I won't bore you with posting them here.
Basically it's the same function for the blueberry bushes. Once I get the trees and bushes pruned, we hope to build a fence around the blueberries, since the Hooligan's seem to like to eat their leaves. Not a good thing.
Something is eating my strawberries! Mice? Not sure. We tried that bird netting last year. What a mess! Would not recommend the stuff to anyone. It only seems able to catch snakes! We had 3 or 4 of those wiggly creatures stuck in the stuff! Impossible to get them out they get so snarled. We just end their misery. It's disgusting. Of course, what ever is taking bites out of my strawberries waits until they are just ripe to be picked. Figures. I need a solution, any ideas?
Do you think it could be slugs?
ReplyDeleteSwamp Dog - I never considered slugs. I can't say I've ever seen one, but that doesn't mean they are not there. Thanks for the comment, I'll do a little research.
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