Article contributed by Eddie Ayers, Gilmer County Extension Agent, 1123 Progress Road, Suite A, Ellijay, 706-635-4426 Now is the time of year we all dream about. We envision the fruit blossoms of spring and can picture fresh fruit during the summer. Proper preplanning in developing a fruit planting plan is critical for success. It goes a long way towards avoiding many common problems. If you follow these suggestions, you can have a great crop year after year.

Fruit plants are perennial – they have a life cycle that repeats year after year. This is in contrast to an annual plant which completes its entire life cycle in one year and then dies. A perennial fruit plant requires long-term preplanning. These include decisions about the site, soil nutrient and pH levels. Making these decisions can only be effective if made before planting.

Consider proper site selection carefully. Your plants need sunlight, and plenty of it, for good plant growth. Pick a site that is in the sun more than half or all of the day. Early morning sun is particularly important because dew dries quickly from the trees. A site with good air drainage minimizes spring frost damage. A southwest facing slope higher than surrounding areas is best. Fruit will grow on a wide range of soil types, but they prefer a sandy loam to sandy clay loam which is well-drained but not prone to drought. Poor soil drainage results in root death and eventual tree decline.

Most fruit plants grow best when soil pH is near 6.5. An exception is blueberry, which prefers a soil pH between 4.5 and 5.2. Soil testing can be done through any UGA Extension office for $9 a bag. Come by the Gilmer County office for a soil sample bag or bring your sample to the office in a pint zip lock storage bag. About 2 cups is needed for a good sample, but I recommend you call or come by the office first to understand what’s involved in this testing procedure.

Proper cultivar selection is a key for success. Cultivars should, in general, be adapted to the southeast and more specifically to the zone in Georgia. Rainfall and humidity are often determining factors on cultivar adaptability, particularly for disease. So when you look at cultivar adaptability in fruit sales catalogs, check about cultivars adapted to your area.

Rootstock selection is an important decision with tree fruit. With few exceptions, a fruit tree consists of two cultivar parts: the scion cultivar (the top part of the tree that produces the desired fruit) is grafted onto the rootstock cultivars (the underground portion of the tree). Various rootstocks offer benefits such as plant size control, disease resistance, soil adaptability and cold hardiness. Once site and cultivar have been selected and healthy trees purchased, it’s time to prepare the site and plant the trees. Before planting, prepare the soil thoroughly by plowing or spading. For adjusting the soil pH, incorporate lime before you prepare the soil. When added to the surface and not plowed in, lime takes years to move down into the soil.

Phosphorous is similar to lime. It moves down through the soil slowly so it should be incorporated before planting along with lime, based on soil test recommendations.

Set plants so that upper roots or the top of the root ball are the same depth they were growing in the nursery. The uppermost roots should be no more than 2 inches below the soil line. After planting, don’t leave a depression around the plant because this will allow water to stand. Most fruit plants require a tremendous amount of timely care for success. However, with proper variety selection, a good growing site, correct site preparation and planting, you can produce and enjoy a wide selection of fresh fruit during the summer and early fall.

For more information, contact me at the Gilmer UGA Extension office 706 635-4426.

Other articles submitted by Eddie Ayers, Gilmer County Extension Agent, 1123 Progress Road, Suite A, Ellijay:

Proper Use of Herbicides

A fellow County Extension Agent, Paul Pugliese, and I were talking the other day about using herbicides in the yard and how a herbicide designed to kill weeds in turf grass can also kill neighboring trees and shrubs so todays article is about the proper use of herbicides.

Herbicides in the phenoxy chemical class provide broadleaf weed control in lawns, pastures and hay forages. Some of the more common chemicals in this class include 2,4-D; MCPP; dicamba; clopyralid; and triclopyr and they’re considered very safe, leaving very few toxicity concerns for pasture animals. In fact, many of these herbicides are labeled for pasture use and allow for livestock to continue grazing without any restrictions, however, pesticide labels should always be read and followed to determine if any special precautions should be taken for specific site uses.

Phenoxy herbicides actually provide selective weed control, which means they control many broadleaf weeds without causing damage to grass. Of course, each product is a little different and some are labeled for very specific turf grass types, depending on their tolerance, so be sure to check the label before applying to a certain lawn type such as tall fescue, Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass, etc. and if turf grass isn’t on the label, don’t assume the herbicide can be applied to all lawns.

Unfortunately, phenoxy herbicides don’t discriminate between dandelion weeds or any other broadleaf plants, including many trees and shrubs, so it’s very important to take extra precautions when applying these herbicides near landscaped areas with ornamental plants. You should also consider the potential for drift damage to nearby plants and avoid spraying herbicides on a windy day.

There is also the potential for movement of herbicides through runoff and leaching in the soil. This is why the product label usually warns against spraying within the root zone of trees and shrubs and never exceeding the maximum application rates listed on the label. The biggest misconception concerns where the root zone of a tree or shrub exists. The roots of mature trees and shrubs actually extend well beyond the drip line of the canopy. Research shows that absorption roots may extend as much as two to three times the canopy width. Consider spot-spraying to target individual weeds rather than broadcasting applications across the entire lawn and never exceed the labeled rate.

The high potential for herbicide damage to trees is another great reason to protect tree roots by providing a mulch zone that extends well beyond the drip line of the canopy. If you’re not trying to grow a manicured lawn underneath a tree, then there is no reason to apply phenoxy herbicides there for weed control.

One more way to avoid potential damage is to rely less on phenoxy herbicides. Other classes of herbicides have less potential to affect the roots of nearby trees and shrubs, so take the time to identify your weeds and choose a more selective herbicide rather than combination products that usually contain multiple chemicals in the phenoxy class.

Many pre-emergent herbicides can prevent weed problems in lawns. The key is to apply them at the correct time in the spring and fall. Applying too early or too late often provides inadequate weed control and requires additional herbicide applications. Also, rotating pre-emergent herbicide classes will avoid the potential for resistant weeds but be sure to apply water to the area according to the pre-emergent herbicide’s label to activate it in the soil.

Farmers Tax Guide

With all of this cold weather many people have had to stay inside. I’ve heard of people getting cabin fever, being tired of watching daytime television, and just basically waiting for the weather to warm up in order for them to get outside and work in the soil. So while we wait for that, I have one question that I’d like to ask people that have been inside, “have you filed your taxes?” This time has been perfect to complete this chore and in case you haven’t filed yet and if you are a farmer, we have a publication that you might want to stop by the UGA Extension office and pick up.

The publication I am referring to is the “Farmer’s Tax Guide.” It is IRS publication number 225 and is for use in preparing 2014 tax returns. It is put out by the IRS with advice and assistance from the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee. As you are reading this article, you might be wondering who qualifies as a farmer.

According to the IRS you are in the business of farming if you cultivate, operate, or manage a farm for profit either as an owner or tenant. A farm includes livestock, dairy, poultry, fish, fruit, and truck farms. It also includes plantations, ranches, ranges, orchards and groves.

Publication number 225 explains how the federal tax laws apply to farming. It serves as a guide to figure your taxes and complete your farm tax return. This publication has a lot of information, but it also has information and references to other farm specific IRS publications that may be helpful in completing your tax return.

The explanations and examples in the publication reflect the IRS’s interpretation of tax laws enacted by congress, treasury regulations, and court decisions. Even though it is a comprehensive publication, it does not cover every situation and is not intended to replace the law or change its meaning.

This guide highlights what is new for the 2014 tax year and has 16 chapters of information needed to help farmers complete their tax return. If you are a farmer or tax preparer and would like one of these guides, you may stop by any county Extension office and pick up a copy. The UGA Extension office for Gilmer County is located at 1123 Progress Road in Ellijay.

Also, I’d like to mention two upcoming meetings for our commercial producers and pesticide applicator license holders. One is the Commercial Wine Grape Production meeting on Thursday, March 5th from 1 – 5 pm at the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center in Blairsville and the other is the 2nd Apple Growers Update on Tuesday, March 10th from 1:30 – 4 pm at the Church of Christ in Ellijay. There is no charge to attend these update meetings.

For more information, contact me at the Gilmer UGA Extension office 706 635-4426.