YES, on extending the grass-free ring. Go back 18-24 inches from the drip line I'd say.

Photos.

Patty S.

Woodlands:
Two things need to be considered. Very young trees need an extended grass free zone since they are very shallow rooted and cannot compete with grass. Roots will be out well past the "dripline". This is even more so if the rootstock is very shallow rooted Flying Dragon or Std Trifoliate. Provided they are growing at a decent rate, older trees in warmer zones should be able to compete when they are about seven feet . Make sure there is not grass growing up against the trunk.

In zones 9 and lower, tips of limbs need to hang down just to ground level to help hold in the heat coming up from bare ground during freezing weather. This is to protect the trunk. The bare ground is critical in this case, any grass or mulch acts to stop this natural passive heating. Pinching bud tips every 8" to 14" to encourage a filled out tree helps. The shape should be like an umbrella, not a leggy and sparse.

Sounds like your tree is happy and healthy. Good for you.

Sorry for the delay, first time to get back to the internet. I am attempting to add pics. Thanks for your input(s) all. Hmmm, can only get one at a time.

Woodlands, you can upload your photos to a photo sharing site, such as photobucket.com, then simply copy and paste in the HTML code string right into the body of your message, which will embed photos directly into your message. You'll know you did it correctly, as when you click on the Preview button, all your photos will display.

And, what tantanman said :-) If you're in a higher zone, and have less of a chance of freezing, you can "limb up". I tend to leave my trees with branches close to the ground, as I can on rare occasion, have freezing temps. But, I do try to keep them from touching the ground, as it is an avenue for snails and slugs to get into the canopy (besides the trunk).

Patty S.

Thanks Patty, I'll do just that. As you may be able to see, the tiny orange tree in the corner of my four trees, struggles each year. I planted that one before the larger one here in front. But the back one keeps getting hit hard every other year by late frosts. Each time it drops all its leaves, I have to trim off dead wood, but it storms back with fruit and all each season. I am going to give it to my neighbor. I think he'll be able to give it the attention it needs. All my other trees seen here (peach, plum, and orange) are stabilized, and require a different type of care; predator prevention.