Native Persimmon Trees

[Stevieray]

I have a lot of native persimmon trees, but they are all crowded by eastern red cedars. Should I remove the cedar trees that are crowding the persimmons? This years fruit crop was really good.

Is there anything else I can do to make them flourish even more? Such as weed mats, pea gravel mulch and fertilizer.

The persimmons in Oklahoma tend to get hit by tent caterpillars. I was told to control tent caterpillars you should spray the ground around the persimmons trees? I was not told what to spray with.

 

[dogdoc]

I cut every red cedar on my place. We don't need them as thermal cover like the northern guys and they serve (IMO) no wildlife benefit. The amount of nutrients and water they rob from your persimmons is huge. So yes, I would cut all the cedars around the persimmons to free them up. I don't do anything to my persimmons except try to reduce competition around them. No weed mats and no fertilization. I don't think you will see any benefit to fertilizing.

I always take a sprayer with liquid sevin with me to the farm during the tent worm season and spray them. The liquid sevin knocks them dead in a hurry.
todd

 

[j-bird]

I would tend to think even a native fruit tree would respond in a similar fashion as the apple and pears and the other fruit trees us habitat guys plant. Competition for nutrients and sunlight are going to be the biggest bang for your buck so to speak. I guess I see this like any other TSI decision.....which tree is providing you the best results for what you are trying to achieve in that particular location. If it's the fruit you are after, then I would tend to think the cedars MAY need to go. You could fertilize if you felt the need as well, but I personally think it would be less of a requirement vs ensuring you have soil moisture and sunshine to those fruit trees. I also don't see what harm a dose of Seven would do to help you battle tent worms. I used it when they attacked some young wild cherry trees I had and on occasion on my apples as well.

 

[Native Hunter]

One thing to watch out for - I ruined a nice persimmon once by cutting a big cedar crowding it. The persimmon was tall and skinny loaded with a massive amount of fruit. The cedar was helping brace the tree. Ten days after cutting the cedar, the persimmon broke off about 4 feet above the ground. Snapped the trunk from the weight of the fruit load.

I have some old pics but don't feel like digging them out right now - but take my word for it. This is something to watch out for.

Otherwise, removing competition is a good thing........................

 

[jteeen]

I also cut every red cedar I see. If I'm extra angry I pour some tricopyr on the stump, but they usually don't come back from a cut stump at ground level.

 

[j-bird]

To natives point - if those cedars are providing shelter from winds that may need to be considered as well. You could still remove them, but just do so over time to allow the tree to grow stronger IF this is a concern. IF this is a concern you can also trim back the crown of the persimmons as well to reduce the weight and surface area to reduce the stress on a weak trunk as well.

 

[Sam]

A balance of food and bedding will help know what you need more on your property. Any basic care you can do for any of the native food sources will help.