How to manage apricot trees after fruit harvest? Latest precautions explained
After apricot trees have borne a large fruit load, they consume a large amount of nutrients, and after fruit harvest they face flower bud differentiation, so they need a large supply of nutrients. At this time, timely fertilization is needed to replenish the consumed nutrients, so that there are sufficient nutrients for flower bud differentiation. But besides this, attention should also be paid to the following aspects. Let's take a look.
1. Pruning
After fruit harvest, apricot trees must be pruned once. Remove dead branches and split or broken branches. For branches that become weak and drooping after fruiting, carry out renewal pruning by cutting back. For water sprouts inside the canopy, promptly pinch the tips and twist the shoots and take other measures to inhibit their vegetative growth. For branches with no space to grow, remove them all to avoid unnecessary nutrient consumption. For upright branches, crossing branches, overlapping branches, as well as diseased and pest-infested branches and thin weak branches, all should be pruned away in time to save nutrient consumption. For branches with a small spreading angle, it is very easy to use the methods of hanging branches or pulling branches to widen the angle, so as to promote an increase in the plant's crown spread and lay a solid foundation for high and stable yields.
2. Strengthen soil and fertilizer management
After fruit harvest, apricot trees should be cultivated and loosened in time. Generally, the cultivation depth is 5-10 cm. Before the leaves fall, apply base fertilizer in combination with deep plowing. The depth for base fertilizer should preferably be 30-40 cm. After fruit harvest, apply a quick-acting chemical fertilizer once in time. Applying 0.5 kg of urea per tree is sufficient, then water. The base fertilizer applied when leaves fall in autumn should mainly be farmyard manure, combined with an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. In addition, apricot trees are not tolerant of waterlogging. When the rainy season comes, drain accumulated water in time to avoid disease infection or root rot. When fertilizing, clean up the weeds, fallen leaves, rotten fruit and diseased and pest-damaged fruit in the orchard. Deep burial or burning are both acceptable. This can reduce the base number of pests and diseases.
3. Prevent and control pests and diseases
After fruit harvest is a period of high incidence of pests and diseases for apricot trees. Reasonably spray pesticides according to the actual situation to protect the leaves and accumulate more nutrients. For aphids, fenvalerate can be used for control. Red spider mites can cause early leaf drop in apricot trees, affecting flower bud differentiation the following year and causing low yields the next year. Pyridaben or abamectin can be used for control.
4. Spray growth regulators
After fruit harvest, apricot trees can be sprayed 1-2 times with a paclobutrazol solution. It can be mixed and sprayed with a low-concentration urea solution and potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, which can promote flower bud differentiation. In autumn and winter, before the soil freezes, it is very easy to water once with freezing water to ensure the apricot trees overwinter safely.
The above is an introduction to the precautions for managing apricot trees after fruit harvest. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.