Newbie gardener with fruit trees

[zhavigo]

About four years ago I purchased four fruit trees for my backyard. A peach tree, two Apple trees (three apple varieties each) and a pear tree. ( I think three variety also)

I planted them in my backyard that I do not head out to very often. For the last three years the Peach tree produced a couple of peaches and that's it, no fruit on the other trees. In the beginning of June I always set up a automatic sprinkler system for the trees and I did nothing else except mow the grass.

This year the Peach tree is producing nothing but the other three trees are finally producing fruit. One Apple tree has so much fruit that all the limbs are bowed over and the tree itself is starting to lean over.
After reading some posts on this website I can say my trees look very healthy, all nice green leaves. On one of the apple trees about 10% of the apples have brown markings. (I will try to include a pic)

I have been looking online on what to do to protect the trees against disease and insects and I understand I have not been properly taking care of the trees.

The help I would like today is
1. What can I possibly do/spray today to protect the fruit from insects 7-10-2016 ?
2. Should I remove some of the apples or tie the limbs up?
3. If I tie up/support the limbs is there a guide to show me how?
4. Does anyone set up a net or water tub to catch the fruit when it falls off the tree? (I am sometimes gone for three or four days, so would prefer not leaving the fruit on the ground or brusied while I'm gone..... Or best time to pick.)
5. Any suggestions, I really know nothing about fruit trees.
6. Any guesses on why the Peach tree did not produce this year? A friend of mine who has a older Peach tree said his did not produce this year either, he blame's the weather.

I am located in NW Oregon.

Thank you for your time.
Curt

[ButterflyLady29]

Remove the blemished apples, if there aren't too many. That will help reduce the weight on the branches. I lost a couple huge branches off a nut tree due to the added weight. You will probably have to find a way to prop up your tree. I've seen whole large trees fall over due to the weight of the ripening fruit.

I've heard a spray made from kaolin clay helps reduce insect damage. Also there are those red apple looking insect traps you might need to use. I've never tried either, no point. Stupid squirrels eat everything before it even has a chance to get ripe.

Some areas won't have any peach harvest because of the weather. Here a late frost got most of the flowers. I was an exception. I had (repeat HAD) dozens of peaches because my tree was in a protected microclimate. The squirrels sure are enjoying that crop. Well, not really enjoying. They pick them and eat a few bites then leave the peaches lay in the yard. I hate squirrels.

[JONA]

Hi,
I don't think your trees are overloaded..but...they do need pruning so they can take the crop without leaning like that.
Just prop up the branches for this summer.
Do you know what the fruit varieties are?
Once you know that you will know if the apples are keepers or need to be eaten straight away as they will not store.
If you don't know then it's a case of taste and see with them.
There is a method of testing fruits ripeness and ability to store...but it will only apply to varieties that are natural keepers.
This to cut a fruit in half...dip the cut surface in iodine. After a few minutes the surface which has gone black, will start to go white from the core out.
Once this white area is more than a quarter of the surface, the apple will keep without shrivelling.
All the iodine does is show how much starch has turned to sugar.
The marks on the apple are the result of scab infections.
Scab is a fungal infection that can occur in warm wet periods. Mainly in the spring to mid July period.
It is only skin deep and does not affect the apples eating unless the infection is very bad. In serious infections though both wood, leaves and fruit can be affected.
Sprays are available to protect the fruit and leaves from it, but they have to be applied regularly as they grow as the sprays are a protectant rather than an irradicant.
If you can post some pictures of your trees in the winter once the leaves have fallen , we can help you with the pruning to get them into a better shape.