Anyone who looks at a mirabelle plum tree at harvest time would never suspect how little care it requires. Only a tree that is still young needs more intensive support from its owner. Later, most of the work is done with the annual thinning cut in spring. There's little left to do after that.
How do you care for a mirabelle plum tree?
Caring for a mirabelle plum tree includes regular watering of young trees, pruning in the first few years, occasional fertilizing with compost and annual thinning cuts in spring. Young trees should be protected from frost in winter.
Providing young trees with water
Each Mirabelle variety is robust as a mature tree, hardy and almost self-sufficient. However, a young tree still needs to be nurtured and cared for until it has significantly increased in size. First and foremost, regular, needs-based and weather-dependent watering in the first few years should be mentioned. Until the tree has a firm grip on the soil with its roots, it must not be thirsty.
First major step in care: the upbringing step
Another care step at a young age, from which the future tree will also benefit, is educational pruning. The scissors can wait two years before they can shape this type of tree in the gardener's hand.
- upright, strong growth should be encouraged
- well-positioned guide branches are selected
- Together they form a crown that is as balanced as possible
- it needs to be well ventilated
- disturbing shoots are regularly eliminated
Watering and fertilizing
An older tree that has already grown in the garden only needs water and nutrients when necessary. If you look at the time spent on this, both care points together are not worth mentioning.
- only water when it is dry for a longer period of time
- Fertilizing with compost
- only once in spring
- maybe. Fertilize modestly in late summer
Annual thinning cuts
The apricot tree tends to grow vigorously and, if undisturbed, would develop a very dense crown over the years. This can have a detrimental effect on his he alth. A poorly ventilated crown cannot dry out as quickly after rainfall. Moisture, however, makes it easy for diseases caused by fungi to break out.
- Pruning is carried out annually in spring
- afterwards the crown needs to get more air and light
- remove inward-growing shoots and water shoots
- clear out disturbing, crossing branches
Protect young trees from frost
Wrap a young tree with fleece (€34.00 on Amazon) so that a harsh winter cannot harm it. A fully grown tree is hardy enough and does not need any help against frost.
