Fruit & Nut Tree and Shrub Walk-Around July 2016

I did a walk-around the yard to record in pictures and words how the fruit and nut trees and shrubs are doing. It should be noted that since planting these trees and shrubs, and watering them in,  almost nothing has been done.  The Peaches and Pears were planted June 5/6, and the Plums on June 27, 2016.

The O’Henry Peach is doing quite well, this is the eastern most peach in the front yard, immediately adjacent to where I cut down the Star Magnolia. I did find what appeared to be either a Mason or Potters Wasp on the O’Henry. Slight damage from leaf eaters of some sort, and lots of new leaf growth; the plant looks healthy. <That is a Mullein, aka Velvet Plant, at the corner of the house (upper left of image), identified by our friend Kerry.>

 

 

 

 

The Loring Peach looks very healthy, new leaf growth, very slight damage due to leaf eaters of some sort, and I did smash one Japanese Beetle on the plant.  The Loring is the western-most peach in the front yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Flamin’ Fury Peach does not look good. No significant bug damage, on the other hand there are only a few leaves, maybe 15, though it looks like almost all of the leaves are still green. I am watering thoroughly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Allegheny Serviceberry in the front yard looks pretty good.  Some not insignificant leaf damage due to leaf eaters of some sort, but on the whole the plant looks like it will survive without intervention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Allegheny Serviceberry in the backyard also looks pretty good. The leaves are less damaged than those on the Serviceberry in the front yard, but it looks like it could use a drink; it will get a good soaking today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The southernmost pear in the back yard looks very good. Minimal leaf damage. The tree was not tagged from the nursery; unknown variety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Niitaka Asian Pear, second in the row from south-to- north in the backyard, looks good. Some leaf damage, new growth evident, plant looks good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Atago Asian Pear, third in line, also looks very good. Minimal leaf damage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sunrise Sweet Pear, shaded from the northeast by a large maple, looks the best of all the pears, with up to 18 inches of new growth on some branches, no less than 6 to 8 on the other branches.  Almost no leaf damage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Golden Russet Bosc Pear looks pretty good, if a bit spindly. This pear is fifth and last in the south-to-north line in the back yard. This pear appeared dead, or nearly so, when I put it in the ground.  It is a pleasant surprise that it is doing so well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A second Niitaka Pear is east and a bit north of the first Niitaka. They are in similar health.  Some leaf damage, some new growth, overall the plant looks healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The American Elderberry shrubs at the extreme northeast of the back yard, against the woods, look very good, no issues noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the four plums.  The Todd Plum, southern-most in the line of four south-to-north, is growing very well. This line of plums is about 15 feet from the west edge of the yard and woods. The north end of the line is near the apiary. It has modest leaf damage; perhaps 10% of the leaves are lace-like. Other than that the tree looks healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second plum in the line is a Hanksa Plum.  Again, leaf damage to perhaps 15% of the leaves, making the leaves lace-like, in some cases only the veins remain. Otherwise this pear looks very healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The third plum in the line was labeled as a Purple Plum, and “junk;” we’ll find out. Some leaf damage to perhaps 5% of the leaves. Plenty of new leaf growth. This plum looks like it could use a drink, but otherwise healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fourth and last in the line of plums is a Green Gage Plum. Most branches have 3 to 4 inches of new growth. Very little leaf damage noted. Not as much new growth on this plum as on the others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally the American Hazelnuts, aka Filberts. There are four plants at the west edge of the yard approximately 5 feet from the woods. Maybe an inch or two of new stem growth on each of these. No significant leaf damage. Fairly unimpressive growth rate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, I am very pleased with how these plantings have done, with virtually no inputs.  With the exception of the Flamin’ Fury Peach, all are doing well, and pest damage seems to be at acceptably low levels, with no application of chemicals.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you will follow us at www.facebook.com/primalwoods.  You can also sign up for email notification of new blog posts at www.primalwoods.com/blog/, scroll down and look for “FEEDBURNER” in the right-hand sidebar, enter your email address, and click on “Subscribe.”

All for now,

John