JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2015
Almond Facts 47
pruned. Fertilizers should not be applied until there
is 4- to 6-inches of new growth. More information
can be found at: http://thealmonddoctor.
com/2010/12/27/proper-almond-tree-planting/.
Pre-Emergent Herbicides
This is a good time to apply any pre-emergent
herbicides. Orchard weeds need to be surveyed to
determine any specifc challenges. The pre-emergent
product and burn-down partner selected should
provide control for the whole spectrum of weeds
within the orchard. Most pre-emergent products
need to be "watered-in" with either an irrigation
or rainfall in order to have effcacy. If applying a
pre-emergent product after the trees become active
(around early February) it may be of beneft to
reduce the rate of pre-emergent to the lower end of
the label rate to reduce the risk of crop injury. This is
of more concern with low cation exchange capacity
soils. More information on herbicide selection
and orchard preparation can be found at: http://
thealmonddoctor.com/2014/01/27/dormant-
weed-control-tree-nut-crops-2014/ and http://
thealmonddoctor.com/2013/12/14/pre-emergent-
herbicide-use-perennial-crop-orchards/.
Improper tree planting
can lead to "J-rooted" trees
or increased rates of brown
gall, resulting in poor orchard
establishment.
Continued on next page »