Early winter management of Sichuan pepper brings better fruiting next year

Shaping and pruning: Winter is a great time to prune Sichuan pepper trees. When pruning, you must remove the "seven branches," namely: water sprouts, dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, overly dense branches, crossing branches, overlapping branches, and weak slender branches. Then gather the removed branches and burn them, which can eliminate pests and pathogens overwintering on the branches.

Scraping off rough bark: Many insect eggs overwinter in the cracks of the rough bark of pepper trees, and mulberry white scale parasitizes the trunk. Scrape off the rough bark and gum oozing spots, gather and burn them, then apply a protective agent, and finally smear thin mud to cover the wounds, which can eliminate pathogens and insect eggs. This method also helps rejuvenate the tree's vigor.

Whitewashing the trunk: Whitewashing can reduce freeze damage, delay the budding and flowering of pepper trees, and protect them from late spring frosts. In addition, it can kill overwintering insect eggs and pathogens hidden in the bark.

Spraying pesticides: Some pathogens and insect eggs overwinter not only on fallen leaves, dead branches and weeds, but also parasitize and overwinter in places such as tree forks. Therefore, before the pepper trees bud, spray insecticide pesticides generally once. At the same time, other trees around the pepper orchard should also be sprayed to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

Cleaning the pepper orchard: Some pathogens and insect eggs of pepper trees parasitize and overwinter on dead branches and rotten leaves. In winter, before turning the soil, clean up the debris in the pepper orchard and dispose of it centrally, which can eliminate overwintering pathogens and insect eggs.

Fertilizing: Under the canopy of Sichuan pepper trees, use ring-shaped, radial and strip-shaped fertilization methods to apply farmyard manure, phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, and apply some nitrogen fertilizer appropriately.

Turning the pepper orchard soil: Take advantage of the natural conditions of low temperature and drought in winter, and by turning the orchard soil, turn overwintering pests in the soil up to the surface to freeze to death or be eaten by birds. The turning depth should preferably be 20-25 cm. It is best to do this before the soil freezes. Turning the pepper orchard soil can not only eliminate overwintering pests, but also improve the soil's physical and chemical properties, improve soil structure, and enhance the soil's ability to retain water and moisture in winter.

Winter watering: Giving Sichuan pepper trees one thorough winter watering can help keep them warm for safe overwintering, increase nutrition, and improve the tree's resistance.