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Posted: 5/23/2016 12:32:03 PM EDT
I planted a small orchard 2 years ago before I even started building my house. I have pruned the trees in late winter in both successive years as well as applied dormant oil after the leaves fell in the fall. I sprayed bonide fruit tree spray on all of the trees a few times each summer.....but I'm sure I'm not doing it correctly, or as cheaply, as possible.

I have apple, pear, and peach planted at the moment. I would like to keep the spray schedule as simple as possible. Is bonide all I need? Or, should be using multiple different chemical? Also, how frequently should I spray them? I can't imagine the few times each summer I sprayed them is enough.

Thanks!l
Link Posted: 5/23/2016 5:35:21 PM EDT
[#1]
Commericial orchard spray schedules are pretty demanding and vary with conditions, rain, wind, etc.  And they are spraying insecticide, miticide, fungicidea and herbicide (for grass control).  All in all, its a full time job.

You can do okay, and minimize the hassle with a four in one all purpose fruit tree spray and dormant oil.

Late winter, when trees are still completely dormant, hose down the trunk and big branches with dormant oil.

Then, use the four in one once at green tip, pre bloom, pink, petal fall and then likely every couple weeks, unless its really wet and rainy, in which case more often.  This will put you ahead of most casual back yard fruit growers.  The spray schedule for a commercial orchard is voodoo -  you need to be an expert on pests, pest life cycle, etc.
Link Posted: 5/23/2016 7:32:19 PM EDT
[#2]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Commericial orchard spray schedules are pretty demanding and vary with conditions, rain, wind, etc.  And they are spraying insecticide, miticide, fungicidea and herbicide (for grass control).  All in all, its a full time job.

You can do okay, and minimize the hassle with a four in one all purpose fruit tree spray and dormant oil.

Late winter, when trees are still completely dormant, hose down the trunk and big branches with dormant oil.

Then, use the four in one once at green tip, pre bloom, pink, petal fall and then likely every couple weeks, unless its really wet and rainy, in which case more often.  This will put you ahead of most casual back yard fruit growers.  The spray schedule for a commercial orchard is voodoo -  you need to be an expert on pests, pest life cycle, etc.
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Ok thanks for the info. Seems like I may have been on the right track, but not spraying nearly often enough. I'm looking for the lazy mans orchard management system!

I will research the application frequency of 4 in 1 and go that route.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Link Posted: 5/24/2016 1:48:03 AM EDT
[#3]
The 4 in 1's will get things done, but are limited to a large degree.

Generally, a guy can by with a couple good fungicides, and a GP insecticide, and Lime sulfur or Sulforix.
You will have to learn some agronomy skills, but that's part of the challenge right..

If you have an ag supply shop locally, stop in and pick up a "Fruit production guide" ,or get one through the MSUE extension, or online bookstore Fruit production guide 2016.

The guide will have recommendations of what to apply, how much, and when, at every stage of the year.

They are a wealth of information, even for a hobbyist.
The MSUE Fruit growers page has crop specific scouting updates, and is handy as well.

Another tool that is handy. Click on a dot nearest you. Click on fruit. Select whichever you are interested in, and get up to date info on pests and disease driven by weather, as well as GDD cycles. MSUE Enviroweather.


The problem with the 3-1 and 4-1 stuff, is you are applying the same thing every time, whether it's needed or not, just for the one needed component.

The smaller volume jugs and bags of unrestricted pesticides, can be a savings over the 4-1 or 3-1, especially when the Fungicide of the 4-1 is not very effective for some diseases, or you need a systemic insecticide due to rain pressure and to protect beneficials...that keep other problems from arising.

The local MSU Extension in your county will have a crapload of info for free, and just about all of them have a Garden specialist that is bored and looking to help.

The 3-1 Bonide "Fruit Tree spray" is Captan, Malthion, and Carbaryl.
The other multi's are similar, and just as limited.

All three or four can be purchased separately in home owner sized packages, lowering the cost of each application.
Additionally, when Captan for instance, is weak against a certain disease why apply it, along with Carbaryl and Malthion that isn't needed, when copper would work better and cost less?

The 4-1 and 3-1 stuff works, mostly, but with a little effort and info, you can save $$$ and have better results.











 









Link Posted: 5/24/2016 7:00:36 AM EDT
[#4]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
The 4 in 1's will get things done, but are limited to a large degree.

Generally, a guy can by with a couple good fungicides, and a GP insecticide, and Lime sulfur or Sulforix.
You will have to learn some agronomy skills, but that's part of the challenge right..

If you have an ag supply shop locally, stop in and pick up a "Fruit production guide" ,or get one through the MSUE extension, or online bookstore Fruit production guide 2016.

The guide will have recommendations of what to apply, how much, and when, at every stage of the year.

They are a wealth of information, even for a hobbyist.
The MSUE Fruit growers page has crop specific scouting updates, and is handy as well.

Another tool that is handy. Click on a dot nearest you. Click on fruit. Select whichever you are interested in, and get up to date info on pests and disease driven by weather, as well as GDD cycles. MSUE Enviroweather.


The problem with the 3-1 and 4-1 stuff, is you are applying the same thing every time, whether it's needed or not, just for the one needed component.

The smaller volume jugs and bags of unrestricted pesticides, can be a savings over the 4-1 or 3-1, especially when the Fungicide of the 4-1 is not very effective for some diseases, or you need a systemic insecticide due to rain pressure and to protect beneficials...that keep other problems from arising.

The local MSU Extension in your county will have a crapload of info for free, and just about all of them have a Garden specialist that is bored and looking to help.

The 3-1 Bonide "Fruit Tree spray" is Captan, Malthion, and Carbaryl.
The other multi's are similar, and just as limited.

All three or four can be purchased separately in home owner sized packages, lowering the cost of each application.
Additionally, when Captan for instance, is weak against a certain disease why apply it, along with Carbaryl and Malthion that isn't needed, when copper would work better and cost less?

The 4-1 and 3-1 stuff works, mostly, but with a little effort and info, you can save $$$ and have better results.


Thanks a ton for that info! I have some research to do. As with most things, I can see there isn't an "easy" way of doing things. Haha.

I'll stop by the county extension office and see what I can round up to start with.











 









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