Mulching & Watering
This is the amount of gallons of water needed per caliper inch each week for new trees.
What is 10 gallons of water? (or just 10 gallons)
This raised area of circular wood connects the branch to the trunk or another branch. It should be left behind when making a pruning cut so the tree can seal properly.
What is the branch collar?
Pears, plums, and apples depend on this to be the pillar of the tree, which includes branches alternating 4-6" apart.
What is the central leader?
Work during this season includes monitoring for disease, and pruning for shape.
What is winter?
This device zips up the trunk of the tree and makes watering new trees a breeze!
What is a Gator/watering bag?
This pruning method is used to prune larger branches using a hand saw. The process involves making a cut on the underside of the branch, cutting the weight of the branch off, then making a final cut at the branch collar.
What is the 3-step pruning method?
Peaches and Japanese plums are pruned in this shape, without a central leader.
What is a vase shape?
This season's fruit tree care includes monitoring for disease, weeding/mulching, watering, and adding compost if needed.
What is spring?
This mulching style piles a large amount of mulch directly against the trunk of the tree. It traps moisture against the tree's trunk and is considered harmful to the tree.
What are mulch volcanoes?
Pruning conflicting branches and lower limbs is done during this time of year.
What is winter?
This tree deformity has two central leaders of the same width. It can create problems if both leaders are left on the tree.
What are co-dominant stems?
Summer tree work includes monitoring for disease, watering, weeding, and this task.
What is thinning/harvesting fruit?
When mulching, how many inches should the mulch be pulled away from the trunk of the tree?
What is 3 inches?
This pruning method is extremely damaging to trees. It involves cutting across the canopy without regard for tree structure or shape.
What is tree topping? (or just topping)
This term is a group of edible plants that are selected and planted around a tree, providing mutual benefits.
What are fruit tree guilds?
Garden sanitation practices include pruning damaged branches, keeping the area around the tree clean, and removing this type of fruit from the tree.
What is diseased fruit?
Yellowing/wilting leaves, dieback, and dry soil are all signs a tree is not receiving enough of this substance.
What is water? (also accept under watering)
You can prune for these three reasons anytime of year, also known as the "Three D's" of pruning.
Dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
Finish the quote: "Trees do not HEAL, they ____!"
What is "SEAL!"
Stone fruit like peaches need to be thinned this far apart from each other.
What is 4-6 inches? (will also accept just 4 or 6 inches apart).