Fruit trees are always nice to have growing on your property. Not only can you enjoy the shade and environmental benefits trees offer, but peach trees also produce delicious sweet fruit that avid fruit eaters can enjoy. Peach trees are especially common, and they grow particularly well in USDA Zone 6 & 7 but thrive in Zones 5-8. Since the McDonough, Georgia and surrounding areas produce remarkable peach trees, we at Milam’s Tree Service would like to share some tips on how to care for them.

Peach Tree Care Tips

To help increase the size of the fruit, after the tree blooms (about 4 to 6 weeks), thin the fruits so that they are 6 to 8 inches apart on the branch. To accomplish 10 to 18 inches of new growth each season, be sure to prune and fertilize.
Peach Tree Fertilizer:
1) Fertilize the young trees with 1 pound of a nitrogen fertilizer approximately six weeks after planning.
2) Add ¾ pound of nitrogen fertilizer once in the spring and once in the early summer for the second year.
3) For the third year add about one pound of actual nitrogen per year to the mature trees in the spring.
4) Do not fertilize it within 2 months of the first fall frost date or when the fruits are maturing to ensure the tree will become hardier.
Peach Tree Pruning: It is essential for peach trees to be pruned and to not neglect the annual pruning. Unpruned peach trees are susceptible to disease and produce less and less fruit each year. On second year wood, peach trees will bloom and bear fruit. To ensure a plentiful crop the following year, you want optimal growth for spring and summer. Annual, moderate pruning is essential for the long-term control of tree vigor and fruiting wood.
1) The pruning should include the peach trees to be an open center tree. In the first year, cut the vigorous shoots that form on the top of the tree by two or three buds in that summer. After month, check on the tree.
2) Cut back any other branches so that these three are the main branches once you have 3 wide-angled branches. By early summer of the 3nd year, cut back the branches in the middle of the tree to short stubs and prune any shoots developing below the 3 main branches. By the 3rd year, cut off any shoots in the center to maintain the shape.
4) Pruning is usually done mid to late April and pinching the summer is also beneficial every year.
Peach Tree Pests & Diseases: Borers, aphids, Japanese beetles, and leafhoppers in addition to brown rot, leaf curl, powdery mildew, and mosaic viruses are the pests and diseases are the vulnerabilities you need to watch for with your peach trees.

Tree Trimming, Pruning & More in McDonough, Jackson, Jonesboro, Fayetteville, Hampton, Sunny Side GA | Fayette, Clayton & Henry Counties, Georgia

To ensure your peach tree is efficiently pruned, call Milam’s Tree Service today and let our experts make sure the pruning is done correctly to promote a healthy and aesthetically pleasing peach tree in your landscaping. Contact us today!