Thursday, March 28, 2024
Fruits

4 Ways of Caring for a Fruit Tree for High Production

Growing backyard fruit trees ranks as one of the most popular gardening pastimes around the world. It lets you pick and choose your favorite kind of fruit from the hundreds of varieties available, and gives you full control over how your food is raised.

While specific care guidelines vary widely depending on the exact kind of fruit tree you’re raising, there are several general strategies and tips can help you successfully care for any young fruit tree after you’ve planted it in your yard.

Fruiting trees, such as apple, pear, peach, citrus and others, are among the most versatile and productive plants in the garden, capable of producing fruit for decades.

Fruit trees benefit from proper planting, routine care and optimum growing conditions. For maximum yield year after year, follow these four tips for fruit tree success.

4 Ways of Caring for a Fruit Tree

4 Ways of Caring for a Fruit Tree

(1) Decide how to prune

If you want the tree to produce fruiting branches low to the ground, you can prune it to knee height and cut back the side branches to one or two buds.

This will direct the tree’s energy to producing low branches at the cuts you made.

On the other hand, you can lop off the bottom branches if you’d prefer the tree not to have branches low to the ground.

Read Also: How to Plant Fruit Trees for Optimum Performance

(2) Protect the tree from sunburn

Many fruit tree growers use a diluted solution of half white latex paint, half water to paint the tree trunk to act as a sunscreen.

If you live in a region with very strong sun, like the Southwestern US, using this method will protect your tree from sun damage.

(3) Control weeds

It’s important to weed the area around the tree as it grows to protect the roots and keep the tree growing healthy and strong.

Pull the weeds by hand, rather than using an herbicide.

(4) Don’t overwater

Keeping the soil constantly wet is not necessary, and can lead to the roots rotting. Let the rainwater your tree.

If a week has passed with no rainfall, water it thoroughly, then let it dry out again.

In summary, below are the right tips to follow in order to properly care for your fruit trees for maximum yield:

Now that you have selected your fruiting tree, there are a few things that are essential to know.

(1) Location

Three considerations are important in choosing a spot for your tree:

Sun – Fruit trees need at least a half day of sun.

Soil – Soil must be well-drained and fertile. Heavy clay soil must be amended before planting.

Space – Fruit trees like air flow and sun. Plant 12-14′ from each other.

(2) Proper Planting

  • Dig hole slightly LESS deep than root mass.
  • For container plants: Remove plant from container, cut or pull away any circled, matted or tangled roots.
  • Set plant in hole so the crown is slightly higher than ground level.
  • DO NOT plant the bud union below the ground.
  • Amend soil with organic matter, such as peat, manure, or planting mix.
  • Mulch 2-3″ deep with bark mulch.
  • Water thoroughly.
4 Ways of Caring for a Fruit Tree

 

(3) Proper Watering

The survival of your plant depends on it.

  • Water all plants thoroughly when first planted.
  • Soak thoroughly to depth of root ball Deep watering once a week for sandy soils.
  • Deep watering every 10 days for clay soils.
  • Water more frequently during first month after installation and during unusually hot, dry periods.
  • Water with a soaker hose, avoiding light surface sprinkling, or let hose run at a trickle at base of plant for 3-8 hours for thorough watering.
  • A 12 hour steady rain substitutes for a normal watering. Thunder showers run off quickly and should not substitute for a thorough soaking.
  • Continue this program until the late fall and then again the following year, if necessary.

Read Also: How to Make Fruit Trees Produce

(4) Spraying

Spray trees with horticultural oil in spring. Spray when temp is 40 degrees and before tree leafs out.

You may spray twice with 7-10 days in between.

This will be immensely helpful lessening the need for pesticides later on!

(5) When to Prune

Apples and PearsLate winter while tree is still dormant. In mid-summer, you can prune to control aggressive growth.

CherriesLate spring or summer. Any other time is not good for cherry trees because disease can affect them if pruned in cool, wet weather.

Peaches, Nectarines and Apricots – Early spring is best after last frost date (mid-May in the Capital District)

PlumsWinter for major cleanup and shape. Again in mid-summer to contain the shape. Plums are aggressive growers. You can’t over-prune a plum tree.

(6) Pruning and Thinning Tips

  • Agressive pruning is advised for fruit trees! Done annually, this will maximize fruit production by producing a vigorous plant.
  • The pruning done the first year will determine the shape of the tree in general.
  • After planting, a fruit tree should be pruned down to 4′-6′ above the ground.
  • Take out inward pointing branches.
  • Take out branches crossing each other.
  • Trim off tips of larger branches.
  • Take off “suckers”. These are shoots coming off the tree below the bud union. Keep doing this annually until the tree is older and suckering slows down.
  • Thin out fruit. If you leave too much fruit on the tree, they will be smaller and ripening will be tougher. Try to leave about 8″ between fruits the first year, continuing to thin in subsequent years.
  • As the tree matures, you will want to continue to trim for shape.
  • Apple, pear cherry trees – leave a central leader. Think of a fat Christmas tree.
  • Peach, nectarine, plum, apricot – make a vase shape. No central leader. All main branches reach up.
  • Always remember that it’s difficult to over-prune a fruit tree.

Read Also: 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Cherries

Agric4Profits

Benadine Nonye is an agricultural consultant and a writer with over 12 years of professional experience in the agriculture industry. - National Diploma in Agricultural Technology - Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Science - Master's Degree in Science Education... Visit My Websites On: 1. Agric4Profits.com - Your Comprehensive Practical Agricultural Knowledge and Farmer’s Guide Website! 2. WealthinWastes.com - For Effective Environmental Management through Proper Waste Management and Recycling Practices! Join Me On: Twitter: @benadinenonye - Instagram: benadinenonye - LinkedIn: benadinenonye - YouTube: Agric4Profits TV and WealthInWastes TV - Pinterest: BenadineNonye4u - Facebook: BenadineNonye

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