Fall
care of fruit trees
A few simple steps taken now will give your fruit trees
a head start for spring.
Fall is also the time to look after the health of the tree. A few simple practices will help the tree through the winter dormant period and ensure its vitality for spring flowering and fruiting.
Here are suggestions for preparing your orchard for winter.
• make sure that your tree is watered well into mid-October so that the tree goes into the winter with a good moisture supply. To know that you have watered sufficiently, place a pan or dish under the tree and water until the container accumulates 5-8 cm (2-3 in.) of water. This amount will water the trees deeply down into the root zone, whereas less water will only dampen the soil close to the surface.
• rake fallen leaves from under fruit trees and put them in areas away from healthy fruit trees. This prevents leaf-borne diseases from recurring. It also reduces habitat for mice, which can be destructive to fruit trees. Cutting the grass around the base of the tree has a similar benefit.
• do not fertilize your tree under most circumstances. Most fruit trees in our soils do not require fertilizer. Do not apply fertilizer after July 1. Never fertilize young trees. If fertilized, they will take longer to mature and bear fruit. If fertilized in the fall young trees in particular will lack winter hardiness because they will continue to grow. Fertilize your fruit trees only if they shows pale leaves and weak growth. If these signs occur, a small amount (1 cup) of a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 16-20-0) for a larger tree will usually help it along. Use less for a smaller tree.
• pick fruit carefully. The stem should remain on a picked apple, but if the leaf spurs are breaking off with the stem, it's likely that you're picking too soon, or your picking technique isn't working. Try grasping the apple from the bottom and gently lifting it upwards till it is upside down; the twig usually breaks free easily. Another technique is to twist the fruit upwards and to one side.
• separate flawed fruit from perfect fruit when storing. Even the smallest nick or beak mark on the fruit will encourage spoilage. Flawed fruit should be set aside for fall eating and cooking; save only the perfect fruit for winter storage.
• wait until early spring for all major pruning. Only minor pruning should be done in other seasons.Pruning in the late summer or fall may encourage the tree to continue growing. It must stop growing for some time in order to harden-off before winter. If it does not have this hardening-off period, it will not become come fully winter hardy, and winter injury may occur.
• control insects. Did you have canker worms on your trees last spring? If you did, fall is the time to get some tanglefoot on that tree to prevent those female moths from going to the top of the tree, where they lay the eggs that hatch into next year's worms. Did you have tent caterpillars on your tree last spring? Watch for their egg bands on the twigs in the fall. Remove any bands, and you will have few or no problems next spring.
• do not leave your fruit on the tree too long before picking.
Overripe fruit attracts pests such as wasps and racoons, and is prone to rot.
Overripe fruit will not last as long in storage.
Pick pears before
mature and allow them to ripen in the house at cool room temperature. Cut
into a pear and check the seed colour. Pick pears at the first hint of browning
of the seeds. Apples can be picked when each seed is about half brown. Once
picked, they can be stored at room temperature for a few days and then used.
If you want to store your apples for a longer period, pick them when you notice
the first hint of brown in the seeds. Place newly picked apples for storage
in the refrigerator and reduce wilting by placing them in a perforated plastic
bag.
Plums are tricky, and
often fall from the tree just before they are ripe. They should be picked
when they are a little on the green side and allowed to ripen at cool room
temperatures.
• take
care to protect the spurs
(short twigs holding the fruit) when you pick apples. Use a pole picker rather
than climbing through the tree when picking fruit, as the spurs break off easily.
The fruit for subsequent years is produced on these spurs.
• in cold climates, protect trees from sunscald. Sunscald can occur in late winter while the roots are still frozen. Sun
can warm the bark during the day, but cells die at night causing damage
to the tree. Plastic tree guards can be placed around the lower trunk
to prevent sunscald; other methods include painting the lower trunk with white
latex paint, or wrapping aluminum foil to shade the trunk.
• protect trees from mice
damage. In cold climates, mice can damage or destroy fruit trees by
eating the lower bark. Observe the lower bark for mice activity, and install
tree guards if this is a problem in your orchard.
• compost windfalls and damaged fruit. Windfalls and slightly damaged fruit can be saved for eating or processing. However, some fallen fruit will be too damaged to save. This fruit attracts wasps and other pests, and is better off in the compost where it can contribute to building healthy compost for spring. Wear gloves when picking fruit off the ground, as wasps can be hard to see and pose a hazard.
Easy-to-use Tree Guards coil around the trunk of a young tree to protect against damage from rabbits and rodents, as well as from winter sunscald. The 24" strip of coiled vinyl has ventilation holes. Use on trees up to four years old. Apply in fall, remove in spring.
Price: $9.95 buy Tree Guards
This two-piece "collar" fits neatly around the tree base. Six vents allow air circulation, and a convenient marker indicates the proper mulch depth. This simple device blocks crawling pests, prevents damage caused by lawn and garden equipment, keeps mulch away from bark and protects against animal pests.
Price: $19.95 buy On-Gard! Tree and Plant Protector
Loaded with practical advice on everything from selecting varieties to planting and pruning for apples, pears, cherries, apricots, plums, peaches and nectarines. Sections on insect, disease and wildlife control, as well as Resources & References.
Price: $14.95 buy The Backyard Orchardist
Related page: Fruit Trees - choosing a fruit
tree, planting instructions, fruit tree care tips
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