Reference this timeline for proper maintenance of your little orchard. For more region-specific information, contact your local Giving Grove affiliate. If you would like more information like this sent straight to your inbox, consider subscribing to The Serving, The Giving Grove’s quarterly newsletter.
Tasks and Time Management for Every Year Routine Maintenance
Watering: 5 gallons (number increases by .5 gallons with every year of growth) every week during the growing season when we do not have 3/4” or more of precipitation a week.
Weeding: Weed as needed, but easiest when done while watering.
Pest Scouting/Removal: Always look out for pests, insects, aphids, mites, scale, caterpillars, etc. Sometimes a simple water spray will knock off the offending pest. Heavy infestations will require more time. Visit our pest page for more information.
Pruning can be intimidating, but is very important for fruit production.
Tasks and Time Management for Years 1 & 2
Dormant pruning: Late winter-early spring, February or early March
Dormant oil spray: Spray directly after pruning
Thinning of fruit: Pinch off or thin fruits in May. For more information on thinning fruit, visit our Spring and Summer Maintenance Guide.
Tree training: Place limb spreaders during the spring and summer for a good tree structure. Refer to Spring and Summer Maintenance Guide for more information.
Pruning and sucker removal: Prune and remove suckers at the roots in early August.
Mulching: Mulch around trees as needed. Refer to Spring and Summer Maintenance Guide for best practices.
Trunk wrapping: Wrap tree trunks in November and remove the wrapping in mid-March.
*For Peaches*: Spray neem around the tree base and on large branches every other week starting in May and ending in September.
Tasks and Time Management for Year 3 and later
Dormant Pruning: Late winter/early spring, February or early March
Dormant oil spray: Spray directly after pruning
Organic petal-fall spray: Spray directly after petal fall
Thinning of fruit: Pinch of or thin fruit of apples, pears, and peaches in May or June
Tree training: In the spring and summer, add limb spreaders for good structure.
Summer pruning: In early August, remove excessive water sprouts and suckers.
Harvest: During the fall, harvest fruit as they ripen. Refer to the Harvest Fruit Guide.
Mulch: Add mulch as needed around the tree.
Fall fertilizing: Fertilize with organic granular fertilizer in late fall-early winter, October-December.
Trunk wrapping: Wrap tree trunks in November and remove the wrapping in mid-March.
Encourage volunteers to weed as they water and maintain the orchard,