In addition to pruning, other care measures are required in the orchard so that the trees bear plenty of fruit, grow vigorously and remain he althy.
What does caring for fruit trees involve?
Fruit tree care includes regular watering, fertilization if necessary, annual pruning, liming the trunks, mulching the root area, pest control, disease prevention and winter protection. Optimal care promotes he althy growth and a rich harvest.
When should you water fruit trees?
Freshly planted fruit trees need plenty of water, especially in the first year. Older fruit trees, on the other hand, are only watered if it is dry for a long period of time during vegetation. Watering should be extensive, especially during the flowering period and in the weeks before harvest, but also in very hot summer weeks.
Do you have to fertilize planted fruit trees?
Whether the fruit trees need to be fertilized is decided after a soil test. Fertilize preferably with compost (€43.00 on Amazon) or other organic materials.
When is the best time to cut fruit trees?
Prune your fruit trees preferably in autumn or late winter.
What is the best way to prune a fruit tree?
Freshly planted fruit trees receive a planting cut, followed by a training cut in the first few years to build up a light crown. This is followed by the annual maintenance cut.
Why should you lime the trunks of fruit trees?
Limeing tree trunks does not protect them from pests, as is often wrongly assumed, but from frost-related cold damage.
Is mulching the root area useful?
Mulching is the most important care measure with regard to a good water supply. From spring onwards, the tree slices of tall and half trunks, but also spindle bushes and berry bushes, are covered with organic material. Grass clippings are very suitable for this.
Which pests should you pay particular attention to in fruit trees?
Many fruit tree pests have specialized in certain species, others have a very wide range of hosts, such as aphids, mealybugs, mealybugs, ants, spider mites, caterpillars, wasps, leaf miners or voles.
What diseases commonly occur in fruit trees?
Pathogens are also often specific to certain types of fruit trees. Diseases that can occur in several areas include: Monilia fruit rot, red pustular disease, powdery mildew, fruit tree cancer, fire blight or scab.
What protective measures should be taken in winter?
Planted, winter-hardy fruit tree species do not require any other protective measures (apart from a coat of lime). Some exotic fruits such as apricots and peaches are not always hardy, as are fruit trees grown in pots.
Tip
A very heavy fruit load weakens the fruit trees to such an extent that there is little or no harvest the next year. Therefore, you should thin out in June and remove fruits that are too dense, too small, misshapen or infected with pathogens. The remaining ones will be significantly larger and the fruit tree will continue to bear fruit next year.
