Q: I have an ornamental flowering plum that produces fruit. I want to spray it to stop the fruit production and the messiness it brings. Last year I had a commercial applicator apply it, but I think I ...

Q. I have a peony that flowered this year. It was supposed to be red, but it turned out to be pink. After the flower was spent and the petals fell off, there are about six little bulbs on the old ...

As fall deepens, the number of gardening tasks left to do gets smaller and smaller. Some, like sharpening tools for next year, can be skipped or postponed until spring without serious consequences.

Q: Last year, my plum tree didn’t have any fruit at all. This spring, it has so many plums that I’m afraid the branches may break! Why? A: This phenomenon is called alternate-year bearing and is very ...

The almost-daily rain we had this spring really put a damper on fruit tree spraying. Pesticides work best if they are applied at least 24 hours before a rain. When a rain happens before the next spray ...

If insecticide sprays are applied too late, the pests enter and eat inside the fruit where they are protected from sprays. If applied too early, the spray will dissipate and be ineffective when the ...

During the summer I often get fruit samples infested with worms or spotted with fungi from home orchardists. I usually ask "Did you spray your fruit trees?" "Oh, yes" is the usual answer. Further ...

Just when you’re ready for a long winter’s nap, it’s time to tend your fruit trees. If you don’t, chances are they’ll struggle in the coming season. Giving them attention now helps ward off insects ...

Question: What is dormant spray? I was told to use it on my fruit trees, but I don’t know what it is. Thanks. Answer: Dormant sprays are sprays used on fruit trees during the winter, the dormant ...

For the past two years, my plum tree has produced plenty of fruit, but they all drop off while still very small. What am I doing wrong? Do we have a plum tree? We thought this was a peach tree. It was ...

The western cherry fruit fly can’t lay eggs in the fruit until the fruit begins to soften. A salmon-colored blush on the cherries is a reliable sign that the fruit is softening and needs protection to ...