What to Do About Frost Damage to Apple Trees? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Remedies
Apple is a fruit that everyone loves to eat, and the market demand for it in our country is very large. Therefore, many people in our country still grow it, and when growing apple trees, people often run into many problems that affect the growth and yield of the apple trees. Especially after winter arrives, apple trees are extremely prone to frost damage. So what should be done about frost damage to apple trees? Below, the editor will give everyone a brief introduction. Let's take a look together!
1. Causes of Frost Damage
Every growing part of an apple tree has different growth habits, so the causes of frost damage to apple trees also differ. When frost damage occurs to the branches and trunk of an apple tree, it is because the air temperature and soil temperature drop sharply, causing the bark of the branches and trunk to cool and contract rapidly, making the main trunk begin to crack from the outside inward, usually cracking at night. Generally, when the temperature drops to minus ten degrees, the branches and trunk are prone to frost damage, and when it drops even lower, the entire tree may freeze to death. The reason for frost damage to the root crown of an apple tree is that the root crown is the part of the whole tree that enters dormancy the latest and also breaks dormancy the earliest, so if the temperature suddenly drops, the surface temperature will begin to change greatly, making it extremely prone to frost damage.
The cold resistance of apple tree flower buds is very weak. The better the flower bud differentiation, the worse its frost resistance will be. Especially in deep winter, the temperature is very unstable. If there is a short period of warming, it will cause the cold resistance of flowers and leaves to decline. If the temperature changes too frequently, it is extremely easy to cause frost damage to flower buds. For example, in early spring, flower buds break dormancy relatively early, so if a late spring cold spell occurs, they will be damaged by frost.
2. Prevention and Control Measures
During the growth period of apple trees, no matter when it is, the stable growth of the tree vigor must be ensured. If drought occurs, water appropriately; if waterlogging occurs, drain promptly. Thin out excessively dense water shoots to improve air and light penetration, ensure normal leaf growth, and enhance the cold resistance of apple trees. Then, in spring and summer, whitewash the trunks, which can effectively play a role in frost prevention. Also do a good job with fertilization to provide sufficient nutrients for the fruit trees. In summer and autumn, mainly use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, while when applying base fertilizer in autumn, mainly use organic fertilizer.
After apple trees suffer frost damage, pay attention to promptly pruning away the frozen branches. For the main branches and trunk that have suffered frost damage, shorten the branches sprouting from latent buds at plump buds to encourage branching. Then cultivate the backbone branches at all levels well. Within three years, the fruit trees should be shortened frequently to control their fruit load and increase the number of branches. If the frost damage is relatively light, then shorten the main and side branches and some permanent auxiliary cultivation branches at plump buds to promote the tree body to recover its growth as quickly as possible.
The above is a brief introduction to what to do about frost damage to apple trees. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!