It's always something, Kooch. Gophers, mice, voles, bugs, bears, coons ...... why can't the critters go ga-ga over pigweed, ferns, or buckthorn, or Japanese stilt grass, or barberry?? Best of luck with your gopher campaign!
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In my picture, the center leader is tipped from the fruit load. For several years since, I have stripped the blossoms or fruit off of the central leader to grow a taller tree. I can no longer reach the leader, even from our longest step ladder, so it is on it’s own.
Any tips on how to get a Kerr to look like that? Like fertilizing/spraying schedule..every guy on here probably had a major case of tree envy..(I know I do)…
Look at the size of the tree vs the trunk and how many vertical shoots are off the laterals. Bet he's worn out a few felco's over the years.
He mentioned 2 big things, removing the flower and staking the tree. Staking prevents the roots from getting beat up in the wind. Can be a 2 edged sword too, not making a sturdy root system. I put them on stakes for 3-4 years. Removed about 20% of them this spring. Some were just rotted.
If you straighten them up and tamp the ground down around them - then stake them - they ought to survive. We had one pulled over horizontally by an accident with a tractor pulling a mower deck, and it lived. Keep the faith, brother!
The pears I got were slow to wake up too, but looking great now. Persimmons always seem late for me.
