what to feed apricot trees

If your mature apricot is in good general health but shows reduced vigor and poor fruit production, it is time to fertilize. Apply a balanced fertilizer, 16-16-16, for example, in early spring (late February or March) and fall (late September or October). Apply no more than 2 pounds of actual nitrogen per year.

1. When should I feed my apricot tree?
2. Do apricot trees need lots of water?
3. How do you take care of an apricot tree?
4. How do I get my apricot tree to produce fruit?
5. What can I plant next to apricot trees?
6. Do you need 2 apricot trees to produce fruit?
7. How long do apricot trees live?
8. Does apricot tree need full sun?
9. Why do apricot trees die?
10. How much water does an apricot tree need?
11. How many years does it take for an apricot tree to produce fruit?
12. Which apricot tree is the best?
13. Do you need a male and female apricot tree?
14. Why is my apricot tree not producing fruit?
15. What time of year do you prune apricot trees?
16. What do you put around the base of a fruit tree?
17. How deep do apricot tree roots grow?
18. Can you grow an apricot tree from a cutting?
19. Are all apricot trees self-pollinating?
20. Can you prune apricot trees in summer?
21. What is the longest living fruit tree?
22. How many years will an apple tree produce fruit?

When should I feed my apricot tree?

When to Feed Apricot Trees

Do not fertilize your young apricot tree in its first year or two. After that, when the tree has begun to bear fruit, you may use a nitrogen fertilizer or one that is specific to stone fruit during the spring blooming season. Avoid application of apricot fertilizer later than July.

Do apricot trees need lots of water?

Apricot trees require deep watering, especially when they begin bearing fruit. To avoid over-watering your apricot trees, water the trunk and base areas every two weeks or so, giving your trees a healthy soak.

How do you take care of an apricot tree?

The trees need full sun and well-drained sandy or loamy soil that is at least 4 feet deep. In addition, they require 600 to 900 hours of winter temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit to set fruit. Apricot trees need a cold rain in late winter when the blossoms are ready to open, followed by dry spring weather.

How do I get my apricot tree to produce fruit?

Since apricots bloom on two-year-old wood, you have to be really careful how you prune them and realize that any year with heavy pruning may lead to a couple of years without fruit. Leave plenty of old growth to balance the new when you're pruning apricot trees in the future, but do prune to stimulate fruit production.

What can I plant next to apricot trees?

Consider planting wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) near the base of the apricot tree. Wormwood is a woody perennial that grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8. It grows best in full sun and produces silvery, aromatic foliage that repels fruit flies.

Do you need 2 apricot trees to produce fruit?

There does not have to be a second apricot tree for the blooms to produce fruit for most apricots, because most varieties are self-fruitful. The blooms appear during early March or the end of February and require dry weather to remain on the tree and produce fruit.

How long do apricot trees live?

Apricot trees are perennials, meaning that they can live for very long periods of time; apricots usually live between 40 and 150 years.

Does apricot tree need full sun?

Plant apricots in full sun. They can grow in partial shade, but the yield will be less than if grown in full sun. Plant apricots in a well-drained loamy soil. Apricots do not like wet roots.

Why do apricot trees die?

As we discussed, there is a common fungus disease of apricots call Eutypa die back that is spread by splashing rain and enters through pruning wounds. For this reason, apricot trees should be pruned now (early Fall), never during the wet winter.

How much water does an apricot tree need?

The trees will need an inch (2.5 cm.) of water weekly, especially during bloom and fruiting. Use a drip irrigation system to avoid wet leaves, flowers and fruit. Be sure your apricot tree care includes thinning of the fruit once it comes in; thin the fruits to 1 ½ to 2 inches (3.8 to 5 cm.)

How many years does it take for an apricot tree to produce fruit?

Apricot trees typically bear fruit three to four years after planting.

Which apricot tree is the best?

Moorpark trees grow the largest and sweetest apricots known today! Exceptionally sweet, delicious, and classic apricot flavor of the same quality as Blenheim! Moorpark is a hardy and resilient cultivar that protects its delicate blossoms from unpredictable spring weather.

Do you need a male and female apricot tree?

It is often said that two fruit trees are needed for production, but it's not because there are separate male and female trees. ... Although some apricot varieties will set some fruit on their own, two different varieties are best for cross-pollination.

Why is my apricot tree not producing fruit?

The apricot tree's lack of fruit production could be due to flower or young fruit damage from weather; it could be due to reduced pollination, also potentially affected by weather; it could be due to tree damage caused by a pest or pests, or it could be a nutrition issue for the tree.

What time of year do you prune apricot trees?

Prune apricot trees in late winter or early spring as the new leaves and flowers begin to open. During this period of time the tree is actively growing and the pruning cuts heal quickly so that diseases have little chance to enter the wounds.

What do you put around the base of a fruit tree?

Organic matter such as straw, hay, wood chips, ground bark, sawdust, leaves, grass clippings, and pine needles are common mulching materials. These should be applied to a depth of 2 to 6 inches and cover the ground around a plant out to the drip line. Black plastic is often used in vegetable production.

How deep do apricot tree roots grow?

Almost all of the apricot root system was located in the first 0.75 m of soil depth, with 91% in the first 0.50 m. More than 75% of the roots corresponded to thin roots, with a diameter less than 0.2 mm.

Can you grow an apricot tree from a cutting?

The most foolproof way to propagate new apricot trees from your existing specimens is to take a cutting. ... Select cuttings that include at least three or four leaf axils or buds. If the bottom half of the new cutting has leaves, strip to remove them, but allow leaves on the top half of the cutting to remain attached.

Are all apricot trees self-pollinating?

Most apricots, nectarines, peaches and sour cherries are typical examples of self-pollinating trees. Requiring a Pollinator — trees that need to be pollinated by another variety of tree. Most apples, pears, plums and sweet cherries are typical examples of this type of tree.

Can you prune apricot trees in summer?

Summer is also a good time to prune stonefruit so they can heal while still in active growth – the best time is immediately after fruiting, especially for apricots.

What is the longest living fruit tree?

The Endicott Pear Tree, also known as the Endecott Pear, is a European Pear (Pyrus communis) tree, located in Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts. It is believed to be the oldest living cultivated fruit tree in North America.

How many years will an apple tree produce fruit?

Stark Bro's Fruit Trees – Years to Fruit