Orchard Trees

Up til now, the trees in the orchard had been waiting patiently for someone to get the spring pruning done. But that is not going to last for long because these lengthening days along with moderating temperatures are beginning to bring the trees out of dormancy.

About ten years ago, we noticed the senior stock of fruit trees that we inherited when we purchased the farm in the 1970’s had begun to show their age. Most of the apple and pear trees had been grafted to produce several varieties of fruit on each tree. Grafts are great for variety but tend to be weaker growths attached to the tree than a branch that formed naturally. Over the last hundred years, grafted limbs have broken out of host trees, some of the trees themselves have had issues and were taken out completely. We have been slowly replacing failing trees with semi-dwarf and dwarf varieties to make the pruning and harvesting easier.

Most of the dwarf trees have been spring pruned and we just need to buckle down to get the big trees completed. The tallest farm ladder we have has been pulled out of storage (a feat in itself) and has been set up at the Bartlett Pear tree back by the shop. Once done with that monster pear tree, the ladder will be moved into the garden area where the rest of the trees will be completed.

The buds have begun to swell and at the tips I am beginning to see the green of future leaves and the pink and white of future blossoms. I figure I have about twenty days before the trees are out of dormancy and the task will be ended for the year until the trees go back to sleep in November. It is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner when the traffic on the county road take note that I am hanging around in the fruit trees.

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I am so pleased to announce that MaryJane Nordgren has made her new book available to the public! Click here for your copy of Nandria’s War.