Organic bug prevention for apple and peach trees?

[citygirlinthecountry]

I just planted two apple and two peach trees in my yard. Everybody tells me that I need to spray them regularly to keep the bugs and worms out of the fruit. I don't particularly want to spray a lot of chemicals around the trees as they are near my chicken coops. Any thoughts on how to keep the bugs at bay?

 

[vfem]

I use Neem Oil. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil

Always spray when tree is dormant and after fruits are set and during NONE windy conditions. Late evening when bees are done for the day as this will affect bees if sprayed too early.

 

[curly_kate]

I have heard from several sources that this works like a charm, and involves no pesticides, organic or non.

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef218.asp

Not sure the extent of your orchard, tho, so this might be way too time-consuming.

 

[Rosalind]

Here is what I do:

In winter (November-Decemberish here in MA), usually on a semi-warm day when temps are above freezing, I prune the trees and then spray with dormant oil. That's just a kind of mineral oil with emulsifiers so it can be diluted in water. Dormant oil will smother any insects that lay their eggs in the bark. I do two coats of that. In spring, I go around and inspect the new growth just as it's starting. If there is fungus, I spray ONLY the fungusy trees with Bordeaux mix--a mix of copper salts, stays in the soil a long time and you really only need to spray it once or twice ever. Tent caterpillars, the branch the caterpillars are on gets pruned off and burned. In summer, I mow the orchard grass every few weeks and mulch with spoiled straw or hay, and set out sticky red ball traps, just a few for the whole orchard.

That's it. That is all I do for 30 antique fruit trees that are completely not at all resistant to any pest on earth. If any trees were going to perish of bugs or fungus or whatnot, it would be these trees. But they are fine, bug-wise. My real problems, in order of urgency:

1. Deer. Bought a 6' fence. Now the neighbors' landscaping is more attractive to deer than mine.
2. Dogs wrestling too close to saplings. They've smashed a couple of small trees playing rough.
3. Spouse wielding a lawnmower
4. Chipmunks & groundhogs eating tree bark in winter
5. Ticks attacking me when the grass is a little high. DH is moving the turkey coop to the orchard right this minute to deal with that issue.

however, I am informed that I am only so lucky because I live in the chilly Northeast, where snow keeps our bug population under control. YMMV and all that.

 

[citygirlinthecountry]

Thanks, y'all!
I will look for Neem oil and dormant oil. I'm not sure that bagging the fruit will work (as that is a LOT of bags!).

I'm assuming it is too later to spray this year. All four trees have fruit on them. Hopefully the bugs will stay away for the time being.

 

[vfem]

Thanks, y'all!
I will look for Neem oil and dormant oil. I'm not sure that bagging the fruit will work (as that is a LOT of bags!).

I'm assuming it is too later to spray this year. All four trees have fruit on them. Hopefully the bugs will stay away for the time being.

I do spray the oil after the fruit is set... it works well actually. Neem also helps against fungus not just bugs so I keep an eye out.