Traditionally, people said when leaves are a size of a mouse’s ear
(tight cluster?). In fact, any time from green tip on until fully leaf out would work. It is more important that scionwood is dormant.
Apple gradting is easy because even if scion is not fully dormant, a graft can still be successful.
I’ve heard apples are easy…I’ll see if I can mess it up!! 
@k8tpayaso,
You have successfully grafts 100’s of jujubes. Grafting apples would be a piece of cake for you. Apple wood is a lot easily to cut into than harder jujube wood. I think you can graft apple successfully with one eye closed 
After having cut juju wood all day I’ll be glad for some softer wood. Thanks for your confidence!!!
I live in North Carolina and have a mulberry which is about 16 ft tall right now and about 4in diameter on the trunk. Within the last couple of days I have noticed it starting to Bud out. Is it too late for me to prune the Mulberry back to a more reasonable size?
I did mine back in May of 17. It did not fruit the next year. The trunk was about 5-6 inches in diameter. It has bounced back well and has fruited last year. The new growth is almost vine-like and it will be getting another pruning (not as drastic) this year.
Any questions, just ask…
Scott
It is well past time for pruning. But a tree that large if healthy would probley be fine. you would not want to remove more then 25% per season so that would be brining 16ft of tree down to 12ft/
Does anyone know if neem oil or spinosad can be even slightly effective against plum curculio? (peaches, pears, maybe plums) I have those available and really don’t want to spend $40 +shipping for a big bag of Surround when I only have 3-5 young trees that I’ll be spraying. I plan on bagging most of the fruit with organza bags once they get big enough to do so, which worked well with the pears last year. Just need something to keep the curculio at bay for those first few weeks.
I bought a huge bag of surround the year after my trees when the ground 3 years ago or so. Been no fruit to surround till last year and PC took the all out. Surround never went bad. Its a base compound and doesn’t spoil at least. Anyway I do not think either need more spinosads are effective vs PC. I am not placing any requirements on being organic so I am using the New Sevin in combination with the surround but I am counting on the Sevin to kill the PC.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sevin-32oz-Concentrate-Outdoor-Insect-Killer-100530123/303593798
Mitchigan state says organic gardners have had good control with Venerate Effectively controlling plum curculio in stone and pome fruits - Fruit & Nuts
I’ve not heard of Venerate before. Anyone here have any comments or experience with it? My organic approaches aren’t working very well, so am looking for more options.
Scott intends to try it this year.
The studies I have seen show no effectiveness at all. Pyganic is about the only cheap organic option for just a few trees. Venerate is experimental and not yet available in smaller quantities.
Thanks for the replies! I’ve considered Pyganic but I’m not a fan of using pyrethrin/pyrethroids due to them being extremely toxic to cats, which I have. Even just getting some on my arm or clothes or shoes and them rubbing on that and then licking their fur can be dangerous to them. Maybe I should just suck it up and get the Surround lol.
I linked to a small quantity source above.
Check to see if any Fertrell locations in your area can get a bag for you.
I’ve ordered my from out of state every time.
Suck it up. Use Surround and adjust your expectation that your may not get all perfect fruit but your cat will forever love you 
Hi,
I have an asian persimmon growing in pot from last year and it’s leaving out now and there are some flower buds too.
I want to transfer to the ground. Should I transfer now or wait until end of the month when it’s warmer? I am located at New York City, zone 7a/b.
Thanks
do you have leaves already? If the persimmon already has growth for the year, it is highly likely that that growth will get burned back. If the plant has its current growth burned back by the cold numerous times, it will significantly set the tree back during the year you want it to establish into the ground.
I’m in a very similar climate. I won’t even move plants out, some with no current growth (still dormant) and some with awakening growth, for another few weeks at least.
Your date for last frost is still some weeks away. Give it time…
Of course, that’s just my opinion.
Scott
Scott,
Thanks for the advise. The young tree already has leaves. I will take your advise and wait until it’s warmer.
Kate
Yesterday I looked at my young Red Astrachan apple tree and I noticed that one bud had a drop of amber liquid on it. I looked more closely and it appeared that the drop was some sort of wound liquid. It was very runny and not sticky and fell right off when I touched the bud.
Now my questions:
