An apple tree in your own garden can produce a delicious harvest in late summer or autumn, depending on the apple variety. However, the tree offers an attractive appearance within the green garden oasis all year round.
How do apple trees change with the seasons?
An apple tree shows flowers in spring, is pruned and watered in summer, bears fruit in autumn and in winter it does not require any special care - only seedlings in the pot that are at risk of frost should be protected.
Spring is the time of flowering
After pruning the tree on a frost-free day between January and March, the apple tree can start the new garden season as one of the first flowering fruit trees. With apple varieties it is generally the case that the first leaves often only emerge when the apple blossoms fade. During this time, sunny and relatively calm days are important so that enough flying insects such as bees and bumblebees can visit the flowers for pollination. In addition, dead branches can now be identified and removed after the rest of the tree has sprouted.
The right care in summer
In the summer it is already clear how many apples are expected to ripen on the tree by autumn. In years with particularly high yields, it may be necessary to remove the weaker fruits early during summer pruning in order to give the remaining fruits a chance to fully ripen on the tree. During summer pruning, errors from winter pruning are also corrected and the vertical shoot tips above the tree crown are removed. In summary, the following care measures should be carried out on the apple tree in summer:
- the summer cut
- Watering vigorously every week
- removing excess fruit
- checking the tree crown for diseases and fungal infestation
The apple tree in autumn and winter
In the fall, after the harvest, the apples are stored and the leaves under the tree are removed. This way, diseases and fungal infections can be avoided. In winter, apple trees do not need any special protection, unless they are frost-prone seedlings in pots.
Tips & Tricks
If care for an apple tree is neglected, it can quickly become infected with diseases or reduce the yield. If you need help with care and pruning, neighbors or the local gardening club can often help.
