How to manage apple trees before flowering? Latest technical methods tutorial

Apple is one of the most popular fruits in our country, and it is basically grown all over the country. When growing apple trees, management work is very important, and we need to reasonably adjust the management methods according to the growth stages of the apple trees. Especially before the apple trees bloom, how should the apple trees be managed before flowering? Below, the editor brings you the pre-flowering management techniques for apples. Let's take a look together!

1. Supplementary pruning before flowering

Supplementary pruning before flowering is a very important management task before apple trees bloom. It is also a main measure to restore the tree shape damaged by improper winter pruning or by climate, mechanical damage, and other reasons. It can adjust the ratio of flower buds to leaf buds on the fruit tree. If it is a young fruit tree that has just started bearing fruit or a full-bearing tree in an off year, then as many flower buds as possible should be retained to promote fruiting and increase yield. For full-bearing trees in an on year, the ratio of flower buds to leaf buds should be kept between 1:3 and 1:2. The number of retained flower buds must not be too large. For trees with unbalanced vigor among the various scaffold branches and branch groups, the number of flowers should be reasonably adjusted.

2. Fertilizer and water management

Fertilizer and water management is also very important before flowering. In addition to applying sufficient organic fertilizer, we should also reasonably apply chemical fertilizer as a top dressing. This satisfies the nutrients needed for apple trees to bloom and bear fruit. The amount of top dressing should be controlled according to factors such as soil fertility, tree vigor, tree age, and yield. For example, if the soil fertility is high and the tree vigor is strong, then no top dressing may be needed; on the contrary, more chemical fertilizer should be applied as a top dressing. For apple trees bearing fruit for the first time, about 1 kg of ammonium sulfate or about 30 kg of human excrement and urine should be applied as a top dressing per tree.

For full-bearing trees, the application amount of ammonium sulfate should be kept at about 2 kg. If it is human excrement and urine, then about 60-90 kg should be applied as a top dressing. It is also best to supplement with an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. This can not only improve the fruit-setting rate of apples, but is also very beneficial to the quality of apple fruit. Usually in March-April, watering should be carried out together with top dressing. Because the temperature at this time is not very high yet, watering should not be excessive, to prevent the ground temperature from dropping and affecting the development of the apple tree root system. For orchards that did not receive winter irrigation before the end of the year, watering should be carried out in time to promote the sprouting of the fruit trees and increase the number of flowers and fruits.

3. Pest and disease control

The pre-flowering period for apple trees is generally in early spring. Early spring is a key period for pest and disease control in apple trees. First, we should scrape off the rotten and diseased bark. Special attention should be paid to bark such as ring rot lesions and old cracked bark. Then do a good job of cleaning the orchard to avoid the spread of disease, reduce the pest population base in the orchard, and also pay attention to applying an appropriate amount of protective agent to wounds. Before the fruit trees sprout and after pruning, the whole orchard should be sprayed with an appropriate amount of Baumé lime sulfur mixture and other agents. If the rot is severe, then a wettable powder of asomate should be sprayed once.

The above is a brief introduction to the pre-flowering management techniques for apples. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!