How to prevent almond winter dieback? A detailed guide to practical methods

In northern regions, especially in areas with strong spring winds, winter dieback is prone to occur. The root system of almonds has no natural dormancy; although some cultivars can tolerate low temperatures of -18°C, winter dieback can also occur in windy, dry weather below -10°C. When transpiration water loss from branches reduces their water content to 35%, winter dieback occurs. Sometimes it also occurs on 2- to 3-year-old branches, causing serious effects on tree growth and fruiting. The main technical measures to prevent winter dieback are as follows:

1. Establish shelterbelts to create a good growing environment. Establishing shelterbelts not only prevents freezing and wind, but also increases the temperature and humidity of the orchard, improves the orchard environment, and reduces the rate of winter dieback.

2. Create a good microclimate. Building a semicircular wall on the north side of the almond orchard with soil or insulating materials such as rice straw can reduce winter and spring transpiration, improve the root system's water absorption capacity, raise the temperature of the rhizosphere environment, and shorten the freezing time.

3. Create a good rhizosphere environment. Plant with high standards, with planting holes 80 cm wide and 80 cm deep, filled with sufficient firewood, grass, and base fertilizer to create a good production environment for the root system. At the same time, persist in applying base fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer every autumn to promote full development of tissues, which can improve the tree's ability to resist winter dieback.

4. Cultivate robust trees. Within 30 to 45 days before leaf fall, continuously spray 2 to 3 times with a 300-fold solution of monopotassium phosphate, which can increase bound water in the tree and effectively reduce the rate of winter dieback.

5. Carry out reasonable summer pruning and control excessive branch growth. Especially in late summer and early autumn, repeatedly pinch the growing tips of vigorous branches to control late-season branch growth, which can reduce the rate of winter dieback by more than 30%.

6. Apply transpiration protectants, antitranspirants, etc. to branches. The branch dieback prevention agent developed by the author, when used on almonds, can achieve a branch winter dieback prevention rate of more than 98%.