How to Reduce Bleeding in Kiwifruit Trees? Practical Prevention and Control Methods

Kiwifruit bleeding refers to the common physiological phenomenon in the following spring where water seeps out from unhealed pruning cuts and saw cuts made during winter pruning. Kiwifruit roots have a high water content and high root pressure. When sap flows in spring, unhealed wounds begin to bleed, and what flows out is mainly water and nutrients, causing a huge loss of tree nutrients and directly affecting tree development and flowering and fruiting. In mild cases it weakens tree vigor, and in severe cases it leads to the death of the whole plant. How can kiwifruit tree bleeding be reduced?

In spring, unhealed wounds are also the main route of infection by the bacterium that causes canker disease. Once canker disease is transmitted, it can lead to the destruction of the entire orchard. The main causes of kiwifruit bleeding are:

1. Pruning too late, so the cuts have not healed;

2. Cracks in the branches caused when tying the vines;

3. Cracks in the trunk caused by winter freeze damage.

To reduce spring bleeding in kiwifruit, growers need to do the following:

1. Soil moisture in winter should not be too high. When soil moisture is excessive, bleeding from the cuts occurs immediately after pruning.

2. Pruning should not be too late. The suitable time for pruning is generally around the Winter Solstice.

3. When pruning large branches in winter, wait until the wounds are dry, then apply “Guoguang Hutu” to promote healing of the cuts.

4. After pruning, spray the whole orchard with Guoguang “Xinjunan acetate 400 times + Zhishengyuan 1500 times” to clean the orchard, which serves to sterilize and promote wound healing.

5. After cleaning the orchard, brush the trunks with Guoguang white “Song'er liquid membrane” to reduce freeze damage to the trunk by using the principle of white reflection and to block pathogen infection.