It goes without saying that with their delicate flowers in spring and their tasty fruits in autumn, fruit trees are very popular with homeowners. But even if their fruits are a source of pleasure, you still need to know how to care for your fruit trees or else their apple, pear and peach production could be compromised.
First of all, you should know that the first few years are crucial to the maintenance of a fruit tree and that’s why it is recommended to trim it slightly. Why? Simply because trimming will give the tree a solid structure and a balanced shape. Once your tree has matured, the subsequent pruning will then keep your tree healthy to give you quality fruits.
Fruit tree care
Unlike oak, maple and spruce, fruit trees require special care and attention. Without being a lot of hard work, regular maintenance must be done to care for your fruit trees. Here are a few things to do:
- Remove weeds around the tree. Keep your soil light near the trunk to encourage mineral penetration and root development.
- Use fertilizers such as decomposed manure or compost in the fall.
- Water young trees to promote their development.
- Install tree guards to keep animals and rodents away.
- Have good pruning shears to make clean cuts without hurting the tree.
- Clean your pruning shears after cutting to prevent the transmission of diseases between trees
Fruit trees can also be prone to disease. Biological treatments contribute to the environmental balance: seaweed, nettle manure or the decoction of horsetail or garlic is well known. For insect pests, Bordeaux mixture is an effective fungicide. The following short list details diseases and pests:
Diseases
- Scab
- Powdery mildew
- Moniliosis
Bugs
- Aphids
- Scale insects
To prevent diseases, avoid watering leaves and discard diseased fruit. Finally, prune your fruit trees and get rid of dead wood often containing insects.
Stimulating the growth of a fruit tree
If pruning prevents diseases, it also stimulates fruit trees’ growth. Adequate trimming favours the growth of lateral branches, adjacent to the core of the tree. This contributes to the production of healthy and tasty fruit. It is recommended to prune young trees as this will improve their growth and prevent the branches from crossing.
Fruit abundance is the result of good pollination and watering. On the other hand, it is important to know that if the fruits are deprived of light by an abundance of leaves, they will fall on the ground even before they ripen. The tree simply rejects them.
Most people spend time caring for flowers and shrubs, but leave aside the trees that require attention. This is all the more so for the care of fruit trees. For the latter, it’s necessary to count between 3 to 5 years for a first harvest. Taking care of your trees right from the start will ensure good growth. At Émondage SBP, we can help and inform you about the care of fruit trees. Trust us for healthy and fruitful trees.
