Start this fall with dormant oil after the leaves drop and again in early spring while it is still cold........follow the schedule up to the bud stage.....one the bud opens we only spray the trunk.............trim in early spring............we lime & use composted old horse manure around the drip line............when you trim use cutters that you wipe with alcohol before & after each tree......ph 5.0-6.5.............it could be your soil. You might need it tested. We sent ours away.........we live on the side of a mountain range that erupted many years ago and they told us we can't do enough lime............so we have to lime fall & spring.