[Firewood Bandit]

The orchard got the 4th spray of the season and the trees are at full bloom right now. It is real pretty IMHO and smells good to boot.

The bloom didn't stand out as well as I would have liked, the sun was very bright today.

 

[Firewood Bandit]

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I apologize for the weeds between the rows in the orchard, but the trees are very sensitive to herbicides this time of year and the violets are a real %&*%.

 

[JDLTG]

Nice place you got there!

 

[myrna]

How far apart do you plant your trees? The orchard looks fabulous.
Very well organized.

 

[Gregbkk]

Very nice! A lot of work went in to that. Beautiful.

 

[Firewood Bandit]

How far apart do you plant your trees? The orchard looks fabulous.
Very well organized.

The industry standard is 11' x 36".

Seems like I went with 12' rows until towards the top. The space was not exactly square so they are 11' on one end angling to 13' by the other end. It is so gradual you don't see it until mowing.

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Very nice! A lot of work went in to that. Beautiful.

There was a lot more to it than the pictures you just saw. It started with cutting down and having a mini EX to remove the standard sized apple trees I had.

Salvaged the 8' high tensile deer fencing from a commercial deer farm. Pulled all the staples, (5 gallon pail plus), pulled all the posts and rolled up the fencing and brought home. Got it for 1/5 what it was worth along with 4 sixteen foot gates.

Then building 1,000' of high tensile deer proof orchard fencing. Put all the posts in by hand with a Seymore post hole auger.

I salvaged 12.5 gauge wire from a former fence that did not work. Also high tensile on 9" spacing, the deer went right through it. This was used for some of the trellis.

It keeps me going, there is always something to do.

Spent half the day rebuilding a small 55 gallon sprayer today with a new 6 roller pump.

Right after taking the pics the trees got the 4th spray of the season.

 

[tj1]

There was a lot more to it than the pictures you just saw. It started with cutting down and having a mini EX to remove the standard sized apple trees I had.

Salvaged the 8' high tensile deer fencing from a commercial deer farm. Pulled all the staples, (5 gallon pail plus), pulled all the posts and rolled up the fencing and brought home. Got it for 1/5 what it was worth along with 4 sixteen foot gates.

Then building 1,000' of high tensile deer proof orchard fencing. Put all the posts in by hand with a Seymore post hole auger.

I salvaged 12.5 gauge wire from a former fence that did not work. Also high tensile on 9" spacing, the deer went right through it. This was used for some of the trellis.

It keeps me going, there is always something to do.

Spent half the day rebuilding a small 55 gallon sprayer today with a new 6 roller pump.

Right after taking the pics the trees got the 4th spray of the season.

Very nice, but I have no idea how we're going to get over those weeds! I didn't even see any!!!!

 

[Gizmo2]

Very nice and a lot of work I'm sure.

 

[Chem1]

Do you care to share your spray regimen with us?

 

[wally2q]

Beautiful orchard! Having it lawn grade in between and the slope.... stunning.
I want to pack a picnic - some cheese, baguette, a nice wine.....i think i need bring the family over!

 

[Gregbkk]

There was a lot more to it than the pictures you just saw. It started with cutting down and having a mini EX to remove the standard sized apple trees I had.

Salvaged the 8' high tensile deer fencing from a commercial deer farm. Pulled all the staples, (5 gallon pail plus), pulled all the posts and rolled up the fencing and brought home. Got it for 1/5 what it was worth along with 4 sixteen foot gates.

Then building 1,000' of high tensile deer proof orchard fencing. Put all the posts in by hand with a Seymore post hole auger.

I salvaged 12.5 gauge wire from a former fence that did not work. Also high tensile on 9" spacing, the deer went right through it. This was used for some of the trellis.

It keeps me going, there is always something to do.

Spent half the day rebuilding a small 55 gallon sprayer today with a new 6 roller pump.

Right after taking the pics the trees got the 4th spray of the season.

All your hard work shows! It's gotta be very rewarding, nice job.

 

[JDLTG]

Beautiful orchard! Having it lawn grade in between and the slope.... stunning.
I want to pack a picnic - some cheese, baguette, a nice wine.....i think i need bring the family over!

Funny you should say that, most wineries here in Oregon look just like his orchard and grass. But the trees are rows of grapes.

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Do you care to share your spray regimen with us?

For lawn or orchard. The latter is a very complex subject.

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Funny you should say that, most wineries here in Oregon look just like his orchard and grass. But the trees are rows of grapes.

When I started on this project, passersby's thought it was grapes.

 

[wally2q]

Grapes or fruit trees... doesnt matter.... picnic time!!!

Btw - i had the grape setup mentioned... in my own backyard.... and then the japanese beetles showed up. I fought with them for 4-5yrs and gave up. Ripped up the grape vines...

 

[Chem1]

Orchard primarily, but you can share your lawn routine as well!
What type of grass is it? Fescue is what I am trying to establish.

 

[aledub]

Beautiful property!

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Grapes or fruit trees... doesnt matter.... picnic time!!!

Btw - i had the grape setup mentioned... in my own backyard.... and then the japanese beetles showed up. I fought with them for 4-5yrs and gave up. Ripped up the grape vines...

Japanese beetles are pretty easy to control. When they show up around the 2nd week of June, 3 oz. of Imidacloprid in the spray tank just smokes em. The cost for this additional chemical is around a $1/ounce, pretty cheap.

By contrast, the general insecticide that is used all season, N-(Mercaptomethyl) phthalimlde, is used at 3#s per acre.

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Orchard primarily, but you can share your lawn routine as well!
What type of grass is it? Fescue is what I am trying to establish.

As I said, the orchard is extremely complicated but it is now based on what is called the NEWA predictive model. NEWA is a 24/7 array of weather stations that record weather events and then use this data to start "clocks" on prevalent pests based on a model.
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So rather than basing sprays on a calendar, now things are tailored for when it is needed and pointed at a specific pest whether it be fungal or insect. The former is much more of a challenge.

As far as the lawn, I don't know what it is. I had a very small lawn care company that I closed this year. My philosophy is pretty simple. Do what golf courses do for maintaining rough. Don't let weeds start, address them if they do, use good fertilizer and most important, set your mower as high as it will go, 4" is a good height. (BTW, don't thatch your lawn unless you really want crabgrass to take off. Golf courses don't do this)

The grass got away from me a little as I always wait till the weeds if any are actively growing before spraying for broadleaf control. Due this before the grass is mowed the 1st time because much more surface area of the weed is available for the herbicide. I also throw in pre-emergent at the same time. I like Prodiamine which is in Barricade fertilizer. The grass was mighty long when I mowed and the mower was set at 4.25" on the 1st mow of the year which is really long for this time of the season. I'll mow again soon @ 3.75" and it will look much better.