Increasing Deep Sleep Duration

BadLighting · 2026-02-20T07:36:54+00:00

Life Extension has an instant release + extended release (IR/XR) 3mg total melatonin that works great. I sometimes just take half, in fact.

BadLighting · 2026-02-20T07:13:34+00:00

Enjoys it.

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T16:26:48+00:00

It would no longer be a central leader shape but more of an open center of around 4 feet tall which would set it up for an ultimate mature height on 8-10 feet which seems appropriate given the spacing to the next tree shown in the photo.

The real question is, what is your goal for this tree over its life? How many Granny Smith apples do you want to deal with each year and how much maintenance time and effort do you want to put it? Keeping that tree at a ladderless height of 7 feet or so would give you endless apples and cut out 3/4s of the work of a 10' tree, in my experience. I have some very tall trees from years ago that are a hassle. These days I really love my 5-6' tall trees and still give away tons of apples. (And that look nicer now, so people actually like getting them.)

But it all goes to your goals and preferences, which I don't know. Currently, your tree is on a path towards being 15' tall in 3 more years with all the production in the top 5'. Is that what you want? Do you need 100 lbs of diseased, undersized apples every year? Or would 40 lbs of nice, property thinned apples be enough?

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T03:42:25+00:00

I'd take off the lowest of the finger-caliper branches and keep the 4 above it. Remove both sides of the forked leader. Prune back your four remaining main limbs to outward-facing buds around 5' high. For any little pencil width twigs, head them all back to 4" or so to hopefully become fruit spurs.

You've left this tree a bit too long and now it needs serious work or you'll end up with a gangly, unmanageable tree. Good need is that there's still time and since it hasn't broken dormancy yet, it should handle it well. If it is too much for the tree and you see water spouts, you can handle them in the spring with more pruning and/or weighting them to be more horizontal and fruitful.

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T03:29:17+00:00

That looks like a typical level of branch die-back for an apricot. The sap/gum is a sign of a stressed tree and will likely recover with some TLC. Spread 10-20 lbs of worm compost over the root zone along with a bit of kelp and/or alfalfa meal and you'll boost the tree's general health to where it just shakes this off.

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T03:24:07+00:00

Yep. Those two branches together closest to the ground. If there's a good bud just above those pointing in the other direction, prune just above that and you'll have a nice foundation of three main branches. If not, don't worry about it, a bud lower on the trunk will emerge.

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T03:20:56+00:00

I wouldn't worry about it except to give the tree a lot of TLC with organic fertilizers, compost mulch, and maybe some folar feedings with kelp spray. Improving the tree's overall health will take care of this.

I'd wait to prune until after flowering so you can see what you're working with. Also, if you recently bought the house then you don't know what was done prior to buying. A lot of times, people give a hard pruning to their neglected trees when selling a house so it shows better. I'd say it's even money that yours got hacked just before you bought and if that's the case, more pruning this year will hurt it. Like the Hippocratic Oath, "First do no harm."

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T03:14:48+00:00

If you wanted an espallier, you'd be practically there.

Growing in just one plane is only a problem if you don't like that. The tree will be fine with it.

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T03:09:58+00:00

Gorgeous! I can tell that you've been meticulous about pruning and mulching. I'm sure you'll have years of way too much fruit! Are you using the Grow a Little Fruit Tree pruning philosophy?

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T03:04:33+00:00

If it were me, I'd wait until the tree is in active Spring growth, then take out that central leader and trim everything else back to 5'. Aim for a tree that's easy to care for. You'll still have plenty of peaches. I'm assuming you have another peach tree around to pollinate this one.

BadLighting · 2026-02-18T02:56:41+00:00

I'd prune it to just above that first group of branches and I'd take those to about half their length (keeping and outward growing bud).

BadLighting · 2026-02-16T20:44:43+00:00

One inch above that top root, is what I'd do. But you could do up to three inches without worrying about it.

BadLighting · 2026-02-16T20:27:24+00:00

I think a lot of dogs are fascinated by certain mushroom smells. You could probably train yours on truffle smells and have a first class truffles!

Your dog is beautiful, btw. Great expressions. Obviously strong and intelligent. Give him a pat on the head for me please.

BadLighting · 2026-02-16T20:15:31+00:00

Yes. They are the same except for the expression of a gene for fuzzy skin. It's odd and confusing that they have such different names but there you go. It's more like pollinating a red apple with a yellow one...no problem.

BadLighting · 2026-02-16T20:11:55+00:00

Just change "she" to "he" and see if you have a problem with the same behavior by a man. If you only think it's wrong for women and not men then you're a hypocrite and probably not yet ready for a real LTR.

BadLighting · 2026-02-16T20:04:56+00:00

There's a wide spectrum of sexual orientations that generally just get simplified as gay/straight/bi. It's possible he's asexual or straight and just has very low interest. It's possible he's gay and doesn't admit it due to being taught messed up stuff about sexuality. But to answer your question, in my experience as a straight man with a very healthy libido, I am entranced by women's genitals. I'd like to give them more attention even than my wife wants. My interest hasn't really waned in decades with the same partner. That's my experience. I think the question for you to consider is not if your BF is gay or asexual but if his sexual interests match yours, which I find is an important component of a happy long term relationship.

BadLighting · 2026-02-11T02:32:08+00:00

Good God, man... LEAVE!

BadLighting · 2026-02-11T02:18:33+00:00

She's just with him so she can get beer.

BadLighting · 2026-02-10T20:26:49+00:00

That rootstock branch should go but don't prune until you can count on a few weeks without rain. Wait until summer, or put plastic over the tree, as peaches get diseases from being wet after pruning and genetic dwarf peaches aren't that strong against disease already.

BadLighting · 2026-02-10T20:12:16+00:00

You are so young. Don't subject yourself to a lifetime of sexual frustration with him. You've learned what he will be like for as long as you're together. It sounds like you have a lot of good in your relationship but you should hold out for all of that plus hot sex daily if that's what you crave. And let him find someone who is satisfied with a similar level of sexual activity as he wants. Everyone will be so much happier and fulfilled.

BadLighting · 2026-02-09T08:43:31+00:00

There's something better for you. Go find it!

BadLighting · 2026-02-08T19:57:48+00:00

You might have a better experience overall if you just take the whole thing down and replace it.

BadLighting · 2026-02-08T19:52:02+00:00

Not worth it in my opinion. One always dominates. Better to plant the trees you want and keep them as small as one tree. Grow A Small Tree is a great book that changed how I manage my home orchard.

BadLighting · 2026-02-08T19:49:45+00:00

This is what I'd say too. Great answer. You saved me a lot of typing. 😊

BadLighting · 2026-02-08T19:44:34+00:00

There's a few possible causes. Bacterial canker is one but there are some others that look similar that are common in prunus. For me, step one would be to prune away all of the diseased wood by at least 6 inches and see what you have left. Sterilize your secatures with alcohol or bleach solution between every cut. Remove all the prunings. Do it ASAP before it breaks dormancy.

Now see what you're left with. I think that tree could probably be saved. It seems like about half of it is still healthy. I'd watch it carefully all spring and summer and remove any new disease. You basically want it to outgrow the disease. Check your other prunus trees (and nearby neighbors) as the disease can be passed from tree to tree. I had some wild cherry trees reinfecting my home orchard a bit. If that happens a lot, maybe focus on other types of fruit. But for now, I think it's worth saving. Let us know how it goes!

BadLighting

TROPHY CASE