WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? After 10 years, CFA’s grafted apple tree in the front yard has grown from a pencil to this year bearing almost 15 gallons of cider. Last Saturday, CFA demonstrated making apple cider. May the Forest Be with You, Ryan Trapani Director ofContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Grafted this apple tree about 8 years ago near Margaretville making some big cuts; They’re giving 2 varieties of apples. Finally, some of our grafts are giving some fruit. It takes patience for sure. We’ve also learned not to make such big cuts likeContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? 10 years ago we grafted an ornamental apple tree in front of CFA’s office using a small cutting or pencil-sized scionwood from Bob Greenhall’s–prior CFA Board member. This year, it’s loaded with apples! Watching this tree grow has been pretty fullfilling; from a pencil-twigContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I’ve said it before. The Catskill Mountains have some awesome volunteer or wild apple trees growing around. Some of the best fruit I know comes from them. However, if they’re not pruned, they will “umbrella” or shade themselves out over time. In other words,Continue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? The Apple Tree Grafting season has now begun. Although the first day out brought snow in Ulster & Sullivan Counties, the weather quickly warmed up. The best time to graft is when the bark begins to slip or becomes pliable. Hopefully, this April willContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? We’re deep into the middle of the Apple Tree Pruning season. Last weekend, I was given the opportunity to restore some really old apple trees. When I walked up to them, they resembled one large “chia pet” of limbs and branches. But, somewhere insideContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? The Apple Tree Pruning season is well underway & so is winter. Ice, snow, & wind are coming & with that comes tree damage. Pruning trees not only helps reallocate sunlight onto the healthiest branches, but also can improve shape & overall sturdiness. ForContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Somewhere hidden inside that overgrown tree is a decent apple tree. Been pruning a lot of these overgrown & neglected apple trees lately. I guess after years of free-loading apples from the side of the road, it’s time to give back a little bit. Continue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Frequent rain makes the phone ring here at the office. Apples have been slated for a bumper year. However, with all this rain, many (not all) apple trees are experiencing leaf & fruit fungal issues as spores fester. Many of the apple trees IContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST I’m noticing quite a bit of flowers these days. Some pear trees are in full bloom down in central Ulster County. The apples are showing some pink swelling, maybe an indication of some good future flowering & apples in the fall? We’ll see. IContinue Reading