Posts Tagged: apricot

A Sign of Spring: Flowering Apricots

It's a sure sign of spring when the Japanese apricot tree north of Wickson Hall at the University of California, Davis, blooms. Butterfly expert Art Shapiro, professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis, noticed it flowering on Jan. 21. "First fruit tree of 2013 blooming!" he said. This...

Honey bee lands on a Japanese apricot at Wickson Hall, UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee lands on a Japanese apricot at Wickson Hall, UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings buzzing, a bee forages in an apricot blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wings buzzing, a bee forages in an apricot blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee with a pollen load. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee with a pollen load. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Apricots Best Pruned in Late Summer to Prevent Dieback

Apricots and cherries can have a fairly short lifespan in many climate zones in California due to a disease called Eutypa.  This disease is able to invade through pruning wounds especially during the wet winter months.  This disease causes limbs or twigs to wilt and die suddenly in late spring or summer with the leaves still attached. 
The bark may appear dark with an amber colored gumming on the branches.  

To combate that the disease and reduce the potential for Eutypa to infect trees, you should begin pruning your apricot and cherry trees during the later part of summer and early fall at least 4-6 weeks prior to rainfall.  However, realize that you may be opening your trees to sunburn with summer pruning so be sure to paint exposed branches with a diluted white latex housepaint with 50:50 water to paint mix.  Also avoid pruning if you are going to have an extended period of 100 degree plus weather. 
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