How to Care for Elberta Peach Trees
- 1). Plant the Elberta peach tree in a location that offers a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily and sandy or loamy, well-draining soil. Amend the soil, if necessary, by tilling loam and coarse builder's sand into the top 1 foot of soil.
- 2). Water the Elberta peach tree deep enough to moisten the tree's roots and to minimize the risk of transplant shock. Irrigate with a drip, soaker or bubbler hose to ensure that the water sinks deep into the soil. Continue to deep-water the tree once a week, or as necessary, to keep its soil evenly moist.
- 3). Fertilize the plant in its first spring, summer and fall with a high-phosphorous fertilizer. Fertilize established Elberta peach trees in the spring with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. Follow the package instructions.
- 4). Spray Elberta peach trees with a specially-formulated fruit tree pesticide twice a year to control twig borers. Apply the first pesticide application in late May or early June. Apply the second application of pesticide in mid-July. Follow package directions for best results of the pesticide.
- 5). Prune the Elberta peach tree between mid-February and early March to manage its shape or remove discolored, diseased, dead or broken foliage or branches.
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