I have two peach trees in my yard and last year I lost almost the entire harvest because of fruit flies. This year I want to do something right now to keep it from happening again. What methods actually work without using such harsh chemicals?
The most effective thing is to pick up fallen fruit every day and keep it away from the tree, plus use yellow sticky traps or ones with specific fruit fly attractant - that really works and without needing strong pesticides. You can also wrap the peaches in paper bags when they're still small, which is labor-intensive but protects your harvest almost 100%.
Fruit flies are a real headache, my mom lost almost her entire harvest a few years ago and since then she's tried several things that actually work. What's worked best for her is using yellow sticky traps hung on the branches before flowering even starts, combined with paper bags or fine mesh around the developing fruit to keep the fly from laying eggs directly on them.
It's also worth collecting any fallen fruit every single day, because that's where the larva completes its cycle - if you get the fruit off the ground fast, you nip the problem in the bud. Some people use homemade traps with vinegar and a bit of dish soap in cut bottles, which catch the adult flies before they reproduce, and honestly that method is cheap and doesn't require any harsh chemicals. Start now while there's still time before it really starts showing up in your area.
Log into answer.
