Are you considering Fruit Tree Maintenance this year?
One of the most satisfying things, when you grow your fruit trees, is that you get to eat from them in season. There are a couple of things that you need to focus on to keep your trees at a manageable height while still producing lots of fruit. Read on to find out how to stay on top of fruit tree maintenance.
Moist Soil
A good rule of thumb is to water your tree anytime you see the top couple of inches of the surrounding soil dry. The water must reach about 18 inches below the surface around the drip line (where the branches end). You can water your tree two to three times a month for about 30 to 45 minutes during the growing season while considering the rainfall in your area. A juicy fruit crop will depend on regular watering, which means deep soaking.
It would be a good idea to invest in a moisture meter. These should be available at most garden centers. Using the meter, you can check the soil’s moisture level to determine how much and how often to irrigate.
Mulch
Adding a 5-inch layer of mulch around your tree’s base will help moderate soil temperature and moisture. The mulch will also help to prevent weeds. Use mulch with as many different types of organic matter as possible to boost the biodiversity in the soil, as it will promote root growth. Lombardi Tree Service can help out with the right type of mulch and also show you how the best way to do it.
Fertilizer
Use specific fertilizer formulations based on what you would like to gain from the tree. For example, you might want the tree to grow in height first. Contact Lombardi Tree Service to find out about the perfect fertilizer. Once the tree has reached a size that is easy to maintain, contact us again for a fertilizer formula to support developing roots, flowers, and fruit.
Pruning
Regular, annual, and aggressive pruning is extremely important to maintain the tree’s ongoing growth and health and to maximize fruit production.
Pruning in the first year sets the eventual shape of the tree. After planting, if your tree is taller than 4 to 6 feet above the ground, trim it down to that height. Thin out the inward-growing branches and any branches that are crossing over each other. It is also a good idea to trim the tips of the larger branches.
Any shoots or branches below the “bud union” should always be pruned – now and in the future. Brand new stems that grow out of the ground from the root systems are called suckers. If you see them, cut them off at ground level. When the tree matures, suckering usually diminishes.
Summer pruning can help control the overall size of your fruit trees and is a great time to prune larger trees if you want to reduce the new growth it puts on each year. There is always more to learn when it comes to pruning and trimming your trees.
In winter or early spring, prune your fruit tree to address issues such as crossed branches, poor air circulation, and dead or diseased limbs.
When pruning fruit trees, use sharp bypass pruners rather than anvil pruners, which can crush and damage branches. Be sure to clean tools with a disinfectant between trees to avoid spreading diseases.
Pollination
Blossoms from fruit trees need to be pollinated to grow fruit. Some trees are self-pollinating, and others need pollen from other plant varieties, which is called cross-pollination. To be sure that the blossoms are pollinated, you can plant your own pollination partners. Get in touch with Lombardi Tree Service to find out how.
Thin your fruits
If your trees set fruit in the first year, pick off some immature fruits, spacing them about 8″ apart on the branches. This will encourage proper ripening, allow the spray to cover well, and improve vegetative vigour. Continue fruit thinning in the future to prevent broken branches and small fruits. The resulting fruits will be fuller and much nicer.
Thinning the fruit set on your tree in spring, when the fruits are about the size of a quarter, also reduces hiding places for many types of pests.
An additional benefit is that harvests will become more predictable each year.
Use the above tips to keep your fruit trees in tip-top shape with fruit tree maintenance. Usually, it takes about three years for a tree to acclimate to conditions before it approaches peak fruit production. So be patient and enjoy the process (and the spoils!).
If you are in Abbotsford or the Fraser Valley, view our team to get a better idea of who we are, and contact us for more information about our services.
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