If you discover a girdled tree in early spring, use white silicone caulking on the exposed area to prevent desiccation and save the tree. The bark may grow back.
Young apple trees do best in bare soil with no competing grass or weeds and no mulch.
Evans cherry trees do best with neglect and competition from grass and weeds.
Ordinary shredded office paper is the best mulch for earthworm activity.
In Canada they use a pre-emergent herbicide called “Caseron” in November to keep all weeds and grass from coming up around the Saskatoon bushes.
Apples do not need to be picked until the temperatures get down to about 25 degrees.
Roses and apples can suffer what is called “replant disorder” if a new plant is placed where a related plant was recently removed. Microorganisms in the soil form symbiosis with the previous plant which can negatively effect the new plant, making it fail to thrive.
