Hello Within Reason,
Sorry for the late response, I haven't browsed here in awhile.
I have found Howard's Tree Program to be on the mark for fertilization and pest control. everything you need in one place
I fertilize 3 times a year with dry organics along with the seasonal requirements, IE: soft rock phosphate in June, sul-po-mag in September. I highly recommend the mineral sands for the first 3 years, 3 times a year, at fertilization. These are broadcast via a hopper attached to my PTO on my tractor.
In addition to the 3 fertilization periods, I foliage feed every 7/10 days or no later than monthly applications, if I run into time conflicts. I had been using Garrett Juice combined with GARLIC/PEPPER, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE,and FISH EMULSION.
Last year I met an "old farmer" at Athens Organics who has his own recipe. It consists of 2 tablespoons hydrolyzed fish, 1 tablespoon of seaweed, 1 tablespoon of molasses, 1 tablespoon humic acid, 1 tablespoon BIO D or Agrispon and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar per gallon of water.
Since I have to use a 110 gallon sprayer, now that my 140 trees have matured (my 4 gallon backpack sprayer will no longer cut it), I buy the above ingredients in bulk for economic reasons.
I have found that you can use any of the foliage spray ingredients together at any spray.
As far as pruning, I followed the "historical method" as much as I could. Sometimes you have to go with what the tree gives you. Most of my trees have a proper scaffold at the proper height, but some, as the pics show would not cooperate.
I was in Fredericksburg last February, visiting the Nimitz Museum, you live in a beautiful area.
Thanks for the kind words and interest.
Alas, we had too warm a winter and I don't think I got 2 dozen peaches this June. With the drought, I have spent every week/10 days dragging 600 feet of water hose around the orchard, as a well and irrigation system are out of reach at this time.
The vast majority of the trees look well enough, but a few of the younger smaller trees are looking poorly, no matter how much water they get, though I limit it to 1 inch a week.
I am already anticipating next year's crop...the eternal optimist?
Take care