How to Manage Pests

Thinning apricots

Apricots usually set more fruit than they can successfully carry, so fruit thinning is essential. If you allow heavy fruiting one year, you may get little or no fruit the following year; this is known as "alternate bearing." Thin the fruits 4 to 6 inches apart on the branch when they are about an inch in diameter. Focus on damaged fruit first. Then remove fruit at the end of branches that may be weakened by heavy fruit.