Tools & Supplies

How to Thin Apple Trees

How to Thin Apple Trees Thinning an apple tree involves selectively removing some of the developing fruits to promote better growth, improve fruit quality, and prevent overbearing. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to thin an apple tree:

Planting in Summer – Tips for Success

Planting in Summer – Tips for Success Planting is not limited to the Spring! With a watchful eye, you can continue to fill out your garden with lush perennial plants and trees throughout the Summer and into Fall!

How to Control Armored Scale Insects

How to Control Armored Scale Insects Damage from armored scale insects can result in leaf drop or branch dieback, luckily these pests can be prevented and controlled.

Keeping Deer Off Your Fruit Trees

Keeping Deer Off Your Fruit Trees There are several ways to consider protecting your young trees from deer. In this video, Andrew explains a simple yet effective DIY deer cage he built on his homestead to protect his young orchard.

Cedar Apple Rust - Identification & Control

Cedar Apple Rust - Identification & Control Cedar Apple Rust becomes a serious threat anytime when apples and Eastern red cedar coexist. Take precautions and treat your trees to further prevent the spread before your harvest suffers!

How to Get Rid of Aphids on Apple Trees: Easy Video Guide

How to Get Rid of Aphids on Apple Trees: Easy Video Guide Fruit trees are no stranger to aphids but can easily be controlled using simple methods. Easily identified by their small size and large grouping, aphids can come in many different colors.

Soil Health

Soil Health Go out to your garden and scoop up a handful of soil, then really look at it. Is it pale or dark? Does it have little holes throughout and crumble easily, or does it stick together when you compress it? Do you know whether your soil is healthy or not?

Beneficial Insects

Beneficial Insects As gardeners, we are well acquainted with pest control. Japanese beetles, aphids and caterpillars are the bane of our existence, and a sizable portion of our time in the garden is spent trying to get rid of them. There are chemical controls, and also products like neem oil — which are made from natural ingredients — but there’s also another method of pest control, and that is to fight insects with insects.

Organic Mulches

Organic Mulches Mulching — which dates back to the Stone Age — didn’t really catch on in the U. S. in the ‘70s. Since then, mulch materials and practices have evolved into a literal science, and mulch has become something of an obsession among some yard enthusiasts.

Organic Weed Control

Organic Weed Control Weeds are not just unsightly - they sap nutrients and water away from your organic trees and plants. Try these easy, inexpensive tips for keeping weeds under control.

Fertilizing Organic Fruit Trees

Fertilizing Organic Fruit Trees It’s entirely possible to nourish your prized organic fruit trees without using harsh chemicals. Learn what to use as well as when (and when not) to fertilize.

All About Tree Stakes

All About Tree Stakes Use tree stakes during the first few years of your new tree's life, especially for dwarf and bare-root trees. As we often say here, “stake for survival.”

What to Do About Brown Rot

What to Do About Brown Rot Brown rot is a fungal disease that commonly affects stone fruit trees like peaches and cherries. Learn how to control brown rot in your fruit garden.

Fruit Tree Care: Spraying Dormant Oil

Fruit Tree Care: Spraying Dormant Oil One effective method of protecting fruit trees from overwintering pests and their eggs is spraying dormant oil in late winter or early spring.

Protect Your Tree Trunks with Tree Guards

Protect Your Tree Trunks with Tree Guards Tree guards are an easy way to protect the tender bark of young trees. Learn how to use tree guards and save trunks from sun and critter damage.

Pest Control Using Garden Netting

Pest Control Using Garden Netting Garden netting is an easy solution to animal pests (and big bugs) without using traps or chemicals. Learn how to use garden netting to protect your harvest.

Fruit Tree Care: Summer Pruning

Fruit Tree Care: Summer Pruning There are several approaches to summer-pruning fruit trees, but they all have one goal in common: detecting what needs correcting. Here is what we recommend.

When to Stop Fertilizing & Why

When to Stop Fertilizing & Why If you need to know when to start fertilizing and how much to use, check the package label. Here's our recommendation for when to stop fertilizing and why.