Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="giraffe326, post: 115540, member: 5422"] I bought a new house this spring. It came with several fruit trees. I have two very large mature apple trees. They haven't been properly pruned and there are hundreds of small apples, many filled with bugs and worms, and some have been pecked by birds. Not edible. I've been reading up on pruning, so I am learning what to do going forward, but I have to deal with the apples I have now. They are starting to drop and the dropped apples are becoming mushy. What is the best method to handle this? Do I pick what I can BEFORE they drop? Do I just let them drop and then clean them up? What is the easiest way to clean them up? Especially if they are mushy? Shovel? What do I do with all of them? I live within city limits. Do I just put them to the curb as yard waste? Earlier in the season, when it was evident I was going to have more apples than I could possibly handle, my dad mentioned my uncle and cousins may want them for deer hunting. Would they still be useful for that purpose or not? If so, would it be best to pick them? Any advice on how to deal with this mess the easiest and cleanest way possible would be appreciated. I want to get a handle on this before bugs (or even worse- rodents) take over my backyard. Thanks! [/QUOTE]