Winter Irrigation Techniques for Fruit Trees: Master the Method to Keep Your Fruit Trees Safe Through Winter

The Best Time for Winter Irrigation The suitable period for winter irrigation of fruit trees is from after the fruit harvest to before the soil freezes.

If winter irrigation is done too early, the temperature is still relatively high and evaporation is great, which is not conducive to storing water and preserving soil moisture, and reduces the fruit trees' ability to resist cold and prevent freezing. If done too late, the low temperature causes the soil to harden, water cannot seep down, and the accumulated water freezes, making the fruit tree roots susceptible to freeze damage. The time for winter irrigation of fruit trees is generally best when the average soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm is 5°C and the air temperature is 3°C. At this time, even if the nighttime temperature drops below 0°C and freezing occurs, the soil can still thaw after the daytime temperature rises again. Therefore, this is the best time for winter irrigation of fruit trees.

Irrigation Amount The irrigation amount for winter irrigation of fruit trees is suitable when, on the same day after watering, all the water has seeped into the ground and reached the root distribution layer, that is, 20-30 cm for young fruit trees and 70-100 cm for mature fruit trees, with the soil moisture maintained at 60%-80% of the field capacity.

Winter Irrigation Methods

1. Well Irrigation

For fruit growers with good conditions and a well, the well irrigation method can be used. Before well irrigation, dig and repair ditches in the orchard along the fruit tree rows, then open the gate and release water, irrigating thoroughly and completely so the fruit trees drink their fill, increasing root moisture and improving growth capacity.

2. Root Watering

For 1-2 year old fruit trees, watering should be done at the roots. For perennial fruit trees, build an oval-shaped earth ridge around them with soil, 15-20 cm high, to prevent water from running off, save water, concentrate the watering, and promote stronger downward seepage.

3. Drip Irrigation

For orchards with drip irrigation conditions, using drip irrigation or sprinkler irrigation can save 60%-70% of water.

4. Trenching

For perennial fruit trees, at a distance of 50-70 cm from the tree, dig a small trench around the fruit tree and pour water into the trench; the water will sink to the roots and be absorbed by them. If the first watering does not seep through, water again the next day, then fill the trench with soil and firm it down to prevent air movement from freezing and injuring the roots. When digging the trench and adding soil, be careful not to injure the roots. Otherwise, it will affect the growth of the fruit trees.

5. Turning the Soil to Preserve Moisture

Winter irrigation can cause the soil surface to harden. If the soil capillaries remain intact, soil moisture evaporation will accelerate, affecting the effect of winter irrigation. Therefore, after winter irrigation, according to the different soil types of the orchard, timely and moderate manual soil turning can destroy the soil capillary system, reduce soil moisture evaporation, and through exposure to the sun throughout the winter, increase soil fertility; the cold winter temperatures will also reduce the survival rate of pests and diseases.