My Fruit Tree Mentor SAVES My Orchard...

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Tom Spellman of Backyard Orchard Culture fame was in town to check out the orchard, so I HAD to have him walk through the orchard with me and show me how to properly prune every tree on the property.
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[@51rwyatt]

This guy is awesome. "Artist's canvas, no signature." Takes a lot of anxiety out of the pruning process for beginners.

[@amossafotu5892]

I enjoyed that as well I'll be keeping that one

[@Neenerella333]

Yeah. He really showed me how different the methods are, between peach and apple trees. My peaches produce every year and are a lot more forgiving of my pruning. I think my young apples will be less aggressively pruned next year.

[@rquinsey1]

I like the addition of drop-in experts. I went to your store to order whitewash. Therefore, if you can, add their products to your store. I especially like the thought of painting bark and protecting leaves. How about more on the subject of leaves, photosynthesis, and the surprise that damaged leaves can still photosynthesize. Thanx Kevin. PS love my BI seeds.

[@nexrace]

Leonardo would paint over something he didn't like so too with pruning the tree will regenerate a new canvas.

[@IVOrganic]

Thanks for making IV Organic brand products a part of your organic growing successes! It was a pleasure spending time with you all at the Epic Orchard! Happy Gardening 2024, Charles 🌱👍

[@MarkTrades__]

that greige color wash is impressive! Cannot see the difference from few feet away in the vid from natural twig/bark color

[@Lush_Acre_Homestead]

@ivorganic I have 60+ fruit and nut trees and I live in Vegas, so crazy on the sun. Are there any trees that you don't recommend get painted and how much should I order for that many trees? Planning on doing the white 3-in-1. Thanks in advance!

[@IVOrganic]

@@Lush_Acre_Homestead IV Organic 3-in-1 Plant Guard (and White Wash, oil-free) products can help all plants & trees! I’d start with one (1) pint size can to learn how far the product can go depending on size of tree(s) and type of bark. Also, I just subscribed to your channel- Looking forward to seeing a demo in your garden someday soon! Happy Gardening 2024, Charles 🌱👍

[@Lush_Acre_Homestead]

@ivorganic Thank you so much, for the response and for subscribing! I'll be ordering a can this next week. 👍

[@mr.mrs.johnson_life]

Where do we buy this. I don’t see a link

[@reyn66]

A rule I follow for pruning my trees are: 1. Dead branches come off. 2. Branches growing towards the center come off. 3. A crossing branch comes off. 4. Touching branches come off. 5. Branches growing straight down come off. 6. Branches growing straight up come off. It does take courage to prune. And don't be afraid to prune because it will grow back.

[@Sue-ec6un]

I practice on my little shrubs...even that takes some amount of courage IF you love the plant you're working on. I HATE almost All the shrubs that the previous owner put in, too close to the house, non native, invasive...not at all how I would do it...but I trimmed them back away from the house, shaped them and kept them. I replace them as I have the correct plant available as I now just propagate my own. Gardening is fun, everything is an experiment and success is it's own reward...because it's such a personal victory that others don't really understand. My first fruit trees are on their way...I'm so excited!

[@Jaay_562]

Kevin pondered editing out that grape segment😂 14:14

[@epichomesteading]

LOLLL

[@NicolaiAAA]

@@epichomesteadingThe edit was way funnier. 😆

[@skullcollector29]

hahahahaha No kidding ....!

[@MyrtleLeafNursery]

I laughed for several minutes, great editing!

[@diablomom]

Hilarious. I watched it a few times

[@sabrinahadro8782]

GET HIM ON A VIDEO IN ANOTHER CLIMATE! pears, more apples, etc! This was gold!

[@HalfNoodley]

Tom seems more laid back about pruning than I expected

[@deathroll69]

I love how Tom just gets to cuttin' on all of the trees haha.

[@dacokc]

dang near took out all that apple tree!

[@X360DevNerd]

KZbin is like the new "read a book" i learn so much from you guys

[@arnoldreiter435]

this is by far one of the best walk thru pruning that i have seen. i dare say we just recieved a master class in practical prunning. Talking about the mindset and options was an eye opener. Thanks for everyone's input.......

[@ZZ_Trop]

And getting the silly little things answered was nice! That kinda stuff lives in my head rent free. It's like you kinda already know the answer but aren't exactly sure so you don't ever ask that question. I don't know if that makes sense but I'm glad he doesn't edit those out.

[@annadavis6361]

I have 25 fruit trees in my backyard because of Tom and his channel. By the way they are all fruiting! People are so surprised when they visit me. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@orlandogardener]

Nice 👍🏾🥭

[@forestcats]

❤ so much canning!

[@rmgalardo]

What is his channel? I can't seem to find it!

[@ocneal]

@annadavis6361, which fruit tree varieties do you like the best? What large city do you live near, what state?

[@kbh2300]

It's starting to remind me of this old house "This new Garden" I love it.

[@AmbersDaintyThrowBlanket]

Love that! 😍

[@CurtisBrandt]

I could listen to Tom Spellman talk about trees all day! What a great episode. Please tell me Tom and Charles are around for the planting of all the new bare root fruit trees? 🙂

[@brianmoore4299]

As soon as Tom mentioned the white wash the first thing I thought of was Charles Malki and IVOrganics. Then a few seconds later and bam there he was. Good job bringing these two experts in on your orchard evaluation. If you just followed what these two guys say anybody trying to grow a fruit tree would certainly have success. Together three of the best in So Cal. Fantastic video with quality information.

[@rayikaikin]

i was expecting charles to be standing there and say "did you say white wash? let me introduce you to my product!"

[@peterhofman7188]

I would say Tom might be on the Mount Rushmore, but the other 2 , not yet, just saying let's see what they have to contribute.

[@brianmoore4299]

@@peterhofman7188 are you that unfamiliar with Kevin and Charles? Charles is a certified plant biologist, has his own company called IV Organics, and his own you tube channel where he has shared vital garden information for years. Kevin is a self made multi millionaire from making home gardening videos on you tube and other blogs he does for about ten years now. He's created a quite successful online store selling gardening supplies under his channel name epic gardening. Both of those "other two guys" are extremely successful in their own right. If you think they still have to prove something then go bark up another tree. They have nothing to prove to me. I've been watching both of them for way too long to believe otherwise. No disrespect meant, but I do not share your opinion.

[@TheRealHonestInquiry]

To anyone who is pruning, check out the CRFG (California Rare Fruit Growers) Scion Exchange dates in your area (they have chapters all over the world). It's free to the public after the first hour and you can pick up many nice varieties for rooting or grafting while giving the same opportunity to others with your pruned cuttings. Be sure to check details for how to properly cut, label and store your cuttings and check for anything not allowed which is usually Citrus or anything Patented.

[@joaniemerrill8354]

Great video. I do wish you were able to show close ups of where to cut and where not to cut on the trees. Thank you!

[@epichomesteading]

Sorry! Next time

[@heathermaries7251]

Tom from FruitTube is my mentor too!! A decade ago I religiously watched the year to year backyard orchard progress and use those techniques to raise size controlled semi-dwarf fruit trees in #35 pots when I was limited to container gardening. Now that I'm growing in-ground I feel like the fruit world is my oyster! So good to have him on the show!

[@TheGardenFamily]

Really love this direction of bringing experts in to discuss different topics…bravo! 👏

[@DK6060]

And with the Fruit Tree God!

[@martini007m]

My orchard has grown from 4 to 28 trees in no time because of this channel, thanks for the inspiration! Can’t wait to try an espalier apple orchard!

[@moekusaki]

11:04 The pause! I felt your pain there!!! My apple tree has also not been producing much last year. I will implement these advice! Thank you to both of you!

[@margiehislop7812]

I’m nowhere close to having fruit trees but I learned so much from this. Thank you for having them on! One of my favorite videos! I now know I need to cut off all the dead leaves from my parents’ huge grapevine before it starts growing again! It has had black fungal rot which has prevented the fruit from fully ripening before rotting and falling off. Hoping that removing all the infected leaves helps!! Tom is amazing.

[@ArtistCreek]

Dont wait. Just go get a tree.... you can keep it in a containr until you feel confident to plant it. I just got my first 2 and am prepping their new home now. I would rather have a tree that has more time to grow than wait to go buy one and end up buying a way smaller tree...all becaue i was scared?? Of what? If it dies you get another. Its just letting go of the idea of being "ready".

[@trinlucian]

whattt?????🤣🤣🤣 the whole daughter grape reproduction just had me💀💀💀

[@pandacorn1761]

Out of ALLLLLLLLL the analogies he could've came up with, that was apparently the best choice 💀💀💀💀💀

[@adriennedull332]

Thank you for having someone on talking about pruning! Its always been scary thing to me. I'd be afraid of cutting off the wrong branch.

[@parvathitiruviluamala9870]

So cool to see Dave Wilson, Charles Mackey together, Kevin. Thank you !

[@Abe8816]

bro you can see the pain in his eyes as the guy cuts the branches😢

[@Charliekewl91]

I've planted - here in LA county - a Kona Sharwill (Type B) and GEM avocado trees (Type A) similar to how y'all planted your trees (mounted and close to each other) a few months back and its looking great. One of the 1st things I did is use Charles product IV organic white wash and its doing wonders for me. Y'all should sell his product in your store as well, its a better alternative than synthetic latex paint.

[@typorter-pp6lh]

I have planted close to 40 fruit trees in the past few years and it’s all Tom’s fault! 😂

[@vickibarana7635]

Kevin - thank you sooo much for sharing all of this information! It's totally incredible the simple tips that these gentlemen are sharing = greatly appreciated!!!

[@jakobtrahey846]

I love Tom!! He's what really helped me when I first started by backyard "orchard"

[@mannyordunez3949]

Tom is a national treasure in my eyes!

[@Kellirich16]

❤❤❤ Every year I keep watching pruning videos for different trees but since I watch so many, I forget little bits and parts of each. Because you hit all four kinds of trees I have in my back yard (citrus, stone fruit, pom and avocado), this video is now my one stop shop for pruning tips. Next year, when the avos are a little bigger, I look forward to the pruning advice. Thanks, Kevin and EG, for all you do to teach gardeners in SD and everywhere.

[@mycatalanhomestead]

Love Tom, also planned my garden in a backyard orchard culture style.😊

[@janekong4668]

Great to see Charles from IV Organics here!

[@laurieslifeessentials]

Love this! I am always looking for advice on my citrus since they don't grow naturally here in New England, and I have found that Charles has a lot of very helpful knowledge on the subject! Clearly Tom does too, so thanks for the introduction to him as well. It's so smart, not to mention humble of you, to always be open to expert advice and the opportunity to learn more about doing what you love!

[@tylerjohnson1002]

All star episode! Tom Spellman is the man! Dave Wilson Nursery's channel has so much awesome content. Tom's work has been SUPER helpful with starting my backyard orchard! Appreciate all of your efforts to share knowledge and keep us stoked in the garden!

[@keatonentze403]

You asked some really good questions Kevin. This video taught me a crud ton

[@Billybobjohngeorgejr]

I have learned a ton of tree culture from Tom Spellman over the last 20 years. This man is a legend in my book. So cool he came to your orchard to help you. I am also in San Diego North county. Tom back in the early 2000's would speak at Weidners Nursery in Encinitas and that's where the Interspecific Hybrid Fruit Trees became my main goal. A lot of Zaiger Genetic trees. The last one I got years ago from a Weidner Nursery lecture of Tom's was a Pluerry. Problem with my yard was Gophers which killed 80% of my trees. Now I have the Gopher Hawk trap and the gophers don't have a chance to do that again. I'm starting a new grow at a homestead I am starting in Valley Center. Can't wait to get that going later this year and beyond. Keep up the great video's.

[@bethanypatrick4286]

Perfect timing for this video. I just moved to California last year and just finished planting 7 fruit trees this week. I also planted some grape vines. I did not know that sun protection was important for new avocado and grape plants. I guess painting is my next garden project. Thank you!

[@NotyouraverageYTwatcher]

Perfect timing! Can you help make Paw Paw trees great again! I have some growing in the southeast. Theyre too good not to grow!

[@deltorres2100]

Wow, thank you for bringing this man on your Vlog can learn a lot from him so I did a very hard pruning on a 22-year-old pear tree last year. I got about 300 pounds of humongous softball size pairs but it was too hard for me to grab. I’m getting older it’s hard for me to pick them even with the pole so we did a real pruning off-season so hopefully I’m not sure if I’ll get anything next year it might get a year I’ve noticed after 22 years the pear tree does go in a shock mode at times when we had a hurricane I didn’t get fruit for I think about two years and then it came back When I was growing up, we had a pomegranate tree that gave us so many and it was a bush, and we didn’t even do nothing special to it no pruning at all that I remember while I was small, but I remember sitting on the porch eating those pomegranates we also had so many trees when I was small and they were like nothing we had giant mulberry trees. We had no quad trees all around us we had Elderberry, I still have wild elderberry grown in my backyard and Mulberry. I had a kumquat. It’s funny those trees seem to just be in our yard. I don’t think it was anything special that I remember but I remember growing up with all those trees. I love trees I was just gi was just gifted a fig tree which I’ve never had and then A crab apple. I’m excited for the blossoms are Beautiful 🍎. 🍐

[@RoyHolder]

Always looking at how to prune trees, thanks Kevin and Tom!

[@musiconanotherlevel]

Tom Spellman we NEED new Dave Wilson Nursery videos!!!

[@annadavis6361]

Got that right!!!!!

[@yessi4499]

Love Tom Spellman!! Wish the camera was angled so that we'd been able to see the pruning a bit better. Always enjoy your videos!

[@epichomesteading]

Will make a note for next time!

[@torontohomestead9254]

You are so lucky to have Tom teach you in person. ❤

[@glma2711]

I remember binge watching all of DWN's videos when I first started growing fruit trees because of Tom Spellman! I hope you'll have him for more videos in the future!

[@jessicacody7264]

The extra collaborations this year are super fun and wicked informative! I've really enjoyed seeing other people communicate their passions

[@kaleidoscopehome-culture2415]

Great guest to have, Mr Tom Spellman! He's the orchard professor for sure! I always learn something new from him. Thank you Kevin for having him as your guest! Also Mr. Charles Malki, I will be picking up some white wash soon for my trees.

[@louiseswart1315]

Thank you for this sensible relaxed take on pruning which focuses on production and preference. I will be buying the lime wash for my Fuerte avocado immediately before the summer in just a few weeks pounds down the northerly(southern hemisphere) and westerly sun where I planted it.

[@Mase326]

Yo that size perspective when y’all shook hands was as enlightening as Tom’s decades of advice!

[@bwokbwokwaffle]

I have been scared in a weird way to prune my trees but this has helped me understand a few things and I'm just going to give it a shot.

[@karenmckinney6461]

That was a great tutorial on how to prune fruit trees. Thanks for all that information.

[@darrybush5293]

Kevin great timing on the video, I’m going to a fruit tree seminar that Tom is the presenter at H & H Nursery on Super Bowl Sunday morning.

[@lyndelgado6138]

Thank you so much for mentioning this i'm gonna try and go too!

[@darrybush5293]

@@lyndelgado6138 you need to call to reserve a spot, they set up chairs for who has called ahead.

[@Gepajay]

I know Charles Malki I learned a lot from him . Thank you Charles, this my first time seeing Tom spell man . Very interesting person I like him

[@jourdainhiini6548]

I've learn a lot from Tom Spellman..his videos are awsome. Dedicated fan in Australia

[@sherylemoore8626]

Great video! So very informative. Tom is so knowledgeable and gentle. I learned so much.

[@cattailsunrise7176]

This is very timely for me. I am trying to figure out which trees I want to plant and where to put them. Thanks!

[@elizabethtreehugger9090]

Check out Water Glassing for preserving your eggs. Its an old technique our grandma's used. I did it last year and enjoyed my hens eggs all winter. They still tasted fresh, even 6 months later.

[@ylborn]

Damn. Tom took you to school, what a G

[@melissam6320]

Excuse me while I pause and laugh hysterically at the teenage daughter analogy for the grapes. And he ain't wrong. 😂😂😂😂😂 The reaction edit was 🏆. 😂😂😂

[@gonzo191]

I'm always so skittish about pruning. I have a soursop tree that recently began fruiting from 2020, where I got about 12 large fruits per season. Last year, it put out about 24+ fruit and I was hesitant to prune, didn't and only got about 4-5 smaller fruit. I really should've pruned as the majority was lost to stress and disease. Hoping for a better year as I'm gonna prune things back a bit.

[@annadavis6361]

Dang he has two heavy hitters! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@angelao4110]

Was about to prune my lime tree so perfect timing on this video 😊

[@deltorres2100]

I’m sharing I feel this is a Great teaching vlog 🌱🌱

[@haventli]

I'm looking forward to hearing Tom on the podcast.

[@JoyoftheGardenandHome]

Appreciate the show&tell approach 💚

[@melissasocal962]

Great Video, with Fantastic guest. Thank you for sharing

[@we_want_chilli_willy]

Well thanks guys, I learned something new today. I never knew you could put sunscreen on trees. Nice video Kevin.

[@districtstatisticsofficeku6220]

Nice to find Tom! i am searching him for a long while! 🥰

[@l.goodman2134]

Great new way for me to think about thinning fruit ... pre-fruit! Beautiful logic that had not ever occurred to me 🤯. Thank you so much 👍

[@cathyhayes766]

How many chill hours do you get? What stone fruit is prolific in your garden? I get no frost & 200 hours.

[@MarkTrades__]

RIDICULOUSLY EDUCATIONAL video. Good stuff kevin

[@urbanfarmstead]

Is that an Ice Cream Bean plant you showed there during the avocado discussion? Great video Kevin, thanks for sharing it!

[@epichomesteading]

Yes it was!

[@brandonmaio3175]

Do you prune genetic dwarf fruit trees any different that your normal fruit trees? I have several Dave Wilson genetic dwarf nectarines that I planted last year but not sure what to do if anything different give their compact stature. I assume they tend to be more bushy if not managed aggressively but also slow growing so I don't want to make any mistakes.

[@tineejohnston9737]

Wow you have all these star power on this blog, can you at least give us heads up so that maybe we could have camp up at your yard lol ❤️😎

[@Elizabeth-uz1mn]

Great episode! Complex subject made approachable.

[@josephschaumberg4136]

Beautiful, blossoming already!

[@lisag9752]

A terrific video. I appreciate the expert demonstration.

[@KK-FL]

Awesome!!! I've learned how to prune all my fruits from your channels except my olive. Thanks for all the help.

[@Betty_Forgetty]

This was super helpful for me. I’m a new citrus grower and have a young Meyer lemon. I could not figure out why the leaves were turning brown. I think it’s too much salt. Our water here is terrible.

[@lindasoaft9303]

Thank you for sharing! This was fantastic information 💚

[@jacopodanglars4836]

to see familiar face in one video together . amazing

[@thereerhunter2314]

I was just watching an IV organics vid with Charles. Then watched this after. When you mentioned white wash thirsty guy I thought of was Charles

[@sallygiles132]

Loved this ❤. So informative thank you all. One question please …… do you paint all young fruit trees ?? I have just bought apples and pears. UK

[@glendaross692]

Great info, Kevin. Many thanks. I really enjoyed your videos before but loving your new direction🌻

[@angelvalenzuela3518]

Thanks for the great tips , keep up the great work

[@cathierose2009]

I learned so much from this video. Thanks

[@MainstreetMarvels]

Wish we could’ve seen the branches you chose to cut on the citrus tree and more explanation on how to cut because I thought the location and angle of the cut was important because it would determine the direction of the new growth. Also what does an “application of white wash” mean on your grapes? Is it any kind of paint?

[@nathitappan]

Did you make a video on the planting of the avocado on a mound? Could you please get me the link? In fact any videos you might have of planting trees on a birm! Thank you!

[@Davidmaxwell07]

7:29 face said it all

[@GoingGreenMom]

Question for the experts.... I have a couple of peach trees and a cherry tree that have been fighting oriental moth for probably at least 5 or 6 years. The oldest, we call her Mama peach is a semi dwarf, I believe Redstar variety, and has a couple of larger limbs that need to come off. I have been using BT to help with the oriental moth issue, and she developed a fungal issue that I believe is brown rot a couple years ago. And I started using a copper fungicide to help with that. When I take off the 2 big branches, do I need to do anything to protect those cuts from having problems caused by pests or fungal/bacterial issues? One of the limbs that is coming off used to have a spot of bacterial canker that seems to have healed after treating the tree with dormant oil, but the dormant oil seemed to cause the fungal problem to start. The second peach has had ant problems ever since I transplanted it out of the compost pile and into its current home, and the limbs they are most active on in the summer has what looks like piles of sap on them now. It is a lower branch I would like to take off for mowing purposes, so same question about the cut as on Mama peach, and also is there a way to get the ants to leave it alone? Uncertain of type on this one as I am not sure what peaches i bought 3 years earlier to can. Lol. Cherry tree is a montmerency, and aside from light oriental moth damage seems fine but is low producing. Perfect lollipop shape naturally so have done no pruning on this one. Should I be to increase production, or is it possibly just because the other cherry tree I planted didnt make it? I clean tools with alcohol between each cut on these trees because of the disease issues. I'm lax on that with the unidentified trees, maples, and the mulberries, but definitely clean between trees.

[@bettercallpaul2027]

Instead of white wash could you use Kaolin Clay? I use this for my peaches to reduce curculio. It will also protect against sun damage, just needs multiple applications.

[@jjbjjbh]

Hi Kevin. This was a great informative video. Question ….. I live about an hour and a half north of San Diego off I-15 . How come you already have flowers on your citrus and pomegranate? Mine have none on either one. Or was this taped couple months ago?

[@GeorgeLucas1138]

boy what a beautiful day

[@cheyennetupou3083]

I'm so glad he finally close his pruners as he's talking. That gave me so much anxiety and worry !

[@cynthiak2955]

Thanks for the video. Very informative. 😀

[@gagehindle210]

Great crew.

[@gamingwithgavin9359]

I love your channel! It has helped me so much and I live in NY !

[@lukekhuu84]

Great video! I thought Stoney fruit trees are pruned right after harvest?

[@parvathitiruviluamala9870]

How tall is your mound for avocado, and how do you keep it from falling apart ? Also where can i buy the 2 in one avocado trees ? That is such a cool concept.

[@sparkasaurusdonna]

Wow this has been so instructive. Thanks so much

[@brianfletcher8399]

Got the all stars right on!!