Garden Jobs

Things to do this week:

* Plant fruit trees and berries. Shop now for deciduous fruit trees and berries, which, like roses, are available at bargain prices as bare root plants. There is no doubt that this is the best time and the best way to plant apples, apricots, nectarines and other deciduous fruit trees. At this time of year, nurseries have the best selection of fruit tree varieties. However, hold off on planting citrus and other subtropicals since our coldest weather is still ahead and young plants are especially sensitive.

Make sure the variety of deciduous fruit tree that you are considering will bear fruit in your climate. Many won’t in our mild weather. The “Sunset Western Garden Book” (Sunset Books, 1995) is one of several references that list which kinds are appropriate, or check out the California Rare Fruit Grower’s Web site, which has a list of fruits trees for milder climates at https://www.crfg.org/tidbits/stonefruit.html.

* Prune and spray fruit trees. Deciduous fruit trees need a yearly pruning if they are to fruit well. It’s easily learned from books such as the time-honored “How to Prune Fruit Trees” by R. Sanford Martin (originally self-published in 1944 and still available at many nurseries). The basic idea is to remove old unproductive wood, while encouraging new fruit-bearing growth, but each kind of tree is pruned in a different way. Pruning apple trees is different from pruning peach trees.

After pruning, spray trees with a safe, nonpoisonous dormant spray for over- wintering insects and diseases.

* Plant natives. This may be one of the best months for planting California native trees, shrubs and perennials, because winter’s rains have started and hopefully will continue on and off into March, insuring a good start. One experienced plantsman is convinced that he can put some native plants in the ground now and never attend to them again and they will most likely survive.