- Moths, aphids, borers, earwigs, cucumber beetles, leaf rollers and fruit worms all prey on apricots. Plant insectary plants to attract the natural insect enemies of these pests. Plants such as columbine, sweet alyssum, yarrow, mints, dill and fennel all provide food or habitat for the adults form of predatory insects such as lady beetles, lacewing bugs, soldier beetles, assassin and pirate bugs.
- Instead of purchasing and spreading several pounds of fertilizer, grow plants in the root zone of your apricot tree that will feed and mulch your apricot. Legumes convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen that apricots can absorb. Plants such as comfrey have deep roots that mine minerals from the soil and bring it to their leaves on the surface. When the leaves shed or are chopped down, the roots and leaves of both these types of plants release their nutrients into surface soil for apricot feeder roots to reach. (See reference 4)
- While apricots are self-fruitful, they will produce more reliable crops with cross-pollination from insects such as bees. This mean additional apricots are good companion plants for other apricots, and heavy plantings of flowers that attract bees are in order. Keep in mind that a fairly dense cover of companion plants also acts as a barrier for less helpful weed plants.
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