With the help of Michael Phillips’s The Holistic Orchard, The Giving Grove has developed a tried and true holistic spray guide for fruit tree maintenance. For region-specific information, please contact your local Giving Grove affiliate. If you would like more information like this sent straight to your inbox, consider subscribing to The Serving, The Giving Grove’s quarterly newsletter.
Holistic Spray Instructions
To Mix:
Determine batch size using the information listed to the right.
If Neem has been in a cool area or outside, bring inside to warm up overnight or heat under warm water (60°+).
Combine soap (Dr. Bronner’s or Dawn) with Neem and stir vigorously to break down consistency.
Add liquid fish and BioAg (effective microbes) with soap/neem solution in the sprayer.
Add warm water to the sprayer, filling to the required batch size. Close sprayer tank and shake tank vigorously.
To Apply:
1st Spring Spray (when buds tips are showing up to 1/2 inch of green): Cover buds, trunk, branches, and any cracks/crevices in tree structure.
2nd Spring Spray (when colored flower buds emerge): Cover buds, trunk, branches, and any cracks/crevices in tree structure.
3rd Spring Spray (after flower petals fall): Cover leaf canopy and developing fruitlets.
4th Spring Spray (10-14 days after applying the 3rd spray): Cover leaf canopy and developing fruitlets. For fruit producing trees (3rd year plus) add Bt (Thuricide) or Spinosad to the 4th spray as most fruit caterpillars are active now.
Additional Cover Sprays for Spring: For trees that are producing, consider 1-2 additional applications of Bt (Thuricide) or Spinosad.
Fall Spray (apply once in late October to early December): Focus on buds, branches, crevices, cracks, and remaining leaf matter.
