Nothing is quite as delicious on a hot, summer day as a fat, juicy peach fresh off the tree. In order for your peach trees to produce the biggest and tastiest peaches, you will need to follow a care plan for them. Check out these tips for ensuring that your peach trees produce every year without fail.

Mulching Peach Trees Is Important

Making sure your peach trees have the moisture they need for producing fruit is vital. Placing a 3-inch deep layer of mulch around your trees can help to retain moisture in the soil its roots are in. Mulch around your trees can also help to reduce weed growth. Making sure all vegetation is pulled up around your trees is important to prevent them from stealing your tree's nutrients.

Fertilizing Properly Matters

How you fertilize your trees matters a lot to their health and fruit production. Mature trees, ones that are older than two years, should have a specific mix of the following during certain times of the year:

• 2 cups of 10-10-10 fertilizer mixed with ¾ cup ammonium nitrate if you are fertilizing during March. Some people apply fertilizer around the first part of April. Bear in mind that fertilizer application is determined by your area's climate. You can find out more about the fertilizing times best for your area by talking to a professional at a tree service or at a nursery.

• 2 cups of 10-10-10 fertilizer mixed with 1 1/2 cups of calcium nitrate during May and July. The same climate rules apply to this fertilizing mix as well.

When adding fertilizer to the soil around your peach trees, be careful to not get it on the bark because it can burn it. Never fertilize directly on the roots of your trees for the same reason. The best way to apply fertilizer to your mature trees is by putting along the drip line of the tree. The drip line is the line around the tree that is even with its canopy.

Being Careful About Incorrect Pruning

When pruning your peach trees, be careful not to cut off the strongest branches. The strongest branches will be able to hold thew weight of the ripening peaches. You can cut away new leaves and smaller branches to prevent them from taking from the nutrients going to the fruits.

For more information, contact Pete & Ron's Tree Service or a similar company.