How to Protect Cherry Trees from a Late Spring Cold Snap? 7 Tips to Help Growers Avoid a Total Crop Loss
A late spring cold snap is a “killer move” against crops. During March and April, just when some crops are at key stages of flowering and young fruit development, a late spring cold snap can very likely cause reduced yields or even a total crop loss. For example, cherry trees, which are relatively sensitive to environmental changes, need proper protective measures. So what are the methods for protecting cherry trees from a late spring cold snap? 7 tips to help growers avoid a total crop loss!
Methods for Protecting Cherry Trees from a Late Spring Cold Snap
1. Understand the Patterns of Weather Change
Stay on top of the patterns of late spring cold snaps in good time, check recent weather forecasts often, and be ready to take orchard prevention measures at any moment, so that when a late spring cold snap hits, growers are not caught off guard.
2. Mound Soil Around the Roots in Good Time
During spring weeding, carry out shallow inter-row and within-row cultivation between the cherry trees, and at the same time mound soil around the roots. Through measures such as mounding soil, raise the temperature of the surrounding soil. If the cherries are grown in a greenhouse, those with the means can add small arched tunnels inside the greenhouse to raise the temperature inside; they can also choose to cover the greenhouse roof with insulating quilts, straw mats, and so on, thereby raising the temperature inside the greenhouse to protect against the cold.
3. Water Appropriately
Before and after flowering, according to the weather forecast, irrigate the whole orchard the day before a frost, or spray water 1-2 hours before the frost, relying on water condensation to release heat and raise the orchard temperature. Watering a large cherry orchard 1 week before flowering can delay the flowering period by 3 to 5 days, avoiding the low-temperature period.
4. Spray Antifreeze Agents
At the large bud stage, when the expected temperature drop is relatively small and not below minus 2°C, spraying a protective agent can have a certain cold-protection effect.
5. Fertilizer and Water Management
Apply more organic fertilizer, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and protect the leaves well. At the same time, before the ground freezes, water thoroughly with winterizing water to improve the tree's cold resistance; increase the tree's nutrient reserves; and strengthen drainage and waterlogging prevention work to prevent the trees from weakening.
6. Whitewash the Trunks
Coating the trunks with whitewash has an obvious heat-preserving and antifreeze effect. Specifically, it is made by mixing quicklime 10 kg + salt 2 kg + sulfur powder 1 kg + animal and vegetable oil 0.1 kg + water 20 kg. Before preparation, use 1/2 of the water to slake the quicklime and dissolve the salt separately, skim off the ash residue, then add the sulfur powder and animal and vegetable oil, mix well, and it is ready to use.
7. Smoke Fumigation
Smoke fumigation can not only raise the orchard temperature by 2-4 degrees, but also, through the smoke screen it produces, prevent heat from escaping from the ground and slow the rate at which the orchard temperature drops, avoiding or reducing damage. The most commonly used smoking method is to light smoke piles in the orchard. It is best to have more smoke piles; when there is wind, set them on the windward side, and when there is no wind, arrange them evenly around the perimeter and in the middle. To save materials and labor, it is best to start lighting them when the temperature approaches zero degrees and continue until after the sun comes out. In addition, there is also the method of lighting grass bundles around the orchard, but the effect is not as good as lighting smoke piles.
The season when late spring cold snaps occur is precisely the critical period for cherry tree growth. Only by taking sufficient protective measures can you ensure high yields from the fruit trees and improve economic returns.