Almond Care Guide

Almond trees are a delightful addition to any garden or orchard, offering both ornamental beauty and delicious, nutrient-rich nuts. However, growing almonds requires attention to a few key aspects such as pruning, pest management, planting, and disease control. This guide focuses on the Hall's Hardy Almond and other almond varieties that adapt well to East Coast conditions, with a focus on pest prevention, planting tips, and disease control.

1. Temperature and Hardiness

Hall's Hardy Almond is a peach-almond cross that thrives in a variety of climates, and was bred to thrive in humid, eastern US climate conditions. Pure almond varieties evolved in Persia and are better suited to arid conditions like California. Almond trees are typically grown in regions with warm, dry summers and cool, frost-free winters.

Cold Tolerance: Hall's Hardy Almond is one of the hardier almond varieties, capable of surviving in areas with cold winters but avoiding prolonged freezes.
Frost Sensitivity: Almonds are susceptible to late spring frosts that can damage flowers or early fruit. Plant your almond trees in areas that are less prone to frost during bloom time, typically in late winter to early spring.

2. Planting Almonds

Proper planting techniques are essential for almond trees to establish strong roots and grow healthily.

Site Selection

Sunlight: Almond trees need full sun to thrive. Select a site that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Soil: Almonds prefer well-drained, loamy soil with a pH of around 6.0 to 7.0. Good drainage is crucial because almonds are susceptible to root rot in wet soils.
Spacing: For a single tree, space it about 12 to 15 feet apart from other trees or structures to allow ample room for growth.

Planting Steps

Prepare the Soil: Use a spading fork to aerate the soil and ensure good drainage. Remove any weeds or grass from the planting area.
Digging the Hole: When digging the planting hole, ensure it is large enough to accommodate the roots without crowding. Tease the roots from the pot form so that they extend outward, while maintaining the bulk of the soil medium around the root mass. Spread the roots so that the new soil you’re planting in fully encompasses them as you fill in the hole. Encourage the root direction horizontally to promote healthy growth. The depth should be such that the grafted area of a grafted tree is 1 to 2 inches above the soil/the same depth that it was planted in the pot. Do not bury the graft union.
Watering: Almonds need a consistent water supply, especially during dry spells. Drip irrigation or a soaker hose works best, as it keeps the soil moist but not waterlogged.

Watering:

Newly planted almonds should be watered regularly during the first year, especially during dry spells. Almonds thrive with about 1 inch of water per week.
Once established, almonds are more drought-tolerant, but they still benefit from water during dry periods.

3. Pruning Almond Trees

Annual Pruning

Prune your almond tree every year to maintain an open, vase-like center. This allows sunlight and air to reach all parts of the tree.
The goal is to keep the tree around 8 feet tall for easy harvesting. If left unchecked, almond trees can reach 15-20 feet tall, producing smaller harvests that are relatively out of reach.
Remove any dead or diseased wood and trim back any crossing branches that could impede growth.

Almonds, like peaches, should be gaining 14-20” of new growth annually, as they tend to fruit on new growth. If the tree is not growing at that rate, it may be indicative of a pest or disease issue.

Peach Tree Borer:

Almond trees are susceptible to peach tree borers near the base of the tree. Lesser peach tree borer can cause damage to the upper trunk and main branches. Inspect the trunk regularly for borer damage, which often appears as a gummy substance or sawdust-like frass near the ground.

Prevention: a tree trunk collar in late spring to prevent borer infestation.
Wood ash, applied around the trunk at ground level may keep the female moth from laying her eggs. Apply a 2” deep layer in a 5” width circle around the tree.
Spraying with Surround after petal fall for a 4-6 week period will usually keep upper peach tree borer in check.

4. Pest Control

Almond trees are generally less susceptible to pests than peaches, but there are still a few common nuisances to watch out for.

Japanese Beetles:

These pests can damage the leaves of almond trees, reducing the tree’s overall health. The Surround® product (a kaolin clay-based deterrent) is effective in repelling these beetles, as is Beetle Gone.

Apply Surround® before adult beetles emerge in late spring. Even a late application can reduce damage.

Leafhoppers:

Leafhoppers are often found in areas with tall grasses and fields, and they can damage new growth in young trees.

Surround® is also effective in keeping leafhopper damage minimal.

5. Harvesting Almonds

Maturity: Almonds are ready to harvest when the outer hull begins to crack open, revealing the almond seed inside.
Harvesting: You can either hand-harvest the almonds or shake the tree gently. If shaking, spread a tarp underneath to catch the falling almonds.
Drying: Once harvested, allow the almonds to dry for a few days. If you are harvesting them from the tree, they will have a hard outer shell that protects the seed (almond). You will need to crack this outer shell using pruners or a nutcracker.

6. General Care and Tips

Soil pH: Almonds grow best with a soil pH around 6.0 to 7.0. Regularly test soil pH, and apply lime if necessary to maintain proper pH.
Mulching: Apply a 2-3 inch mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Avoid placing mulch directly against the trunk.
Fertilizing: Almond trees benefit from a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Apply a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium to promote healthy growth and good fruiting.

Conclusion

Growing almonds, particularly Hall's Hardy Almond, can be a rewarding experience when you follow the proper care guidelines. With the right planting, pruning, pest control, and disease management strategies, you can enjoy healthy almond trees that thrive and produce abundant, flavorful nuts.

Almond Care Guide