How to prevent and remedy late spring frost damage in fruit trees? Growers advised to save this after a warm winter

Although spring has already arrived and temperatures are rising, sudden cold air outbreaks are still possible. This phenomenon is commonly known as “late spring frost”, and the fluctuating environmental temperatures can cause great harm to fruit tree growth. So after a warm winter, what are the prevention and remedy measures for late spring frost damage in fruit trees? Growers are advised to save this!

I. Prevention measures for late spring frost damage in fruit trees

1. Strengthen field management

Strengthen soil, fertilizer and water management in the orchard: apply more organic fertilizer and carry out more foliar topdressing to protect plant leaves, so as to raise the nutritional level of the tree body and enhance the resistance of fruit trees to low temperatures.

Strengthen pest and disease control: in combination with orchard sanitation, we need to adopt comprehensive control measures against the main pests and diseases of fruit trees, so as to maintain a vigorous tree condition and enhance the tree body's resistance to freezing injury.

Take measures to delay the flowering period: we can make full use of the characteristic that secondary shoots bloom late, prune heavily in winter and pinch in summer to promote shoot growth. We can also spray growth regulators to delay the flowering process, so that the flowering period of fruit trees avoids the period of low-temperature freezing injury.

2. Take frost-resistance measures

Watering: when a strong wind and temperature drop are forecast, we must irrigate the whole orchard with cold water. This can not only effectively prevent cold wave invasion and reduce ground radiation, but also replenish tree body moisture, increase air humidity, raise the dew point temperature, and effectively reduce the degree of freezing injury. Using this method can delay the flowering period of fruit trees by 3-4 days, which helps avoid the main frost period.

Tree disk covering: spread a layer of wheat straw, weeds, rice straw, leaves and other materials 10-2 cm thick in the tree disk, and water thoroughly so that the grass is completely moistened, then scatter a layer of soil on top. This can both preserve soil moisture and block cold air invasion, and has a very significant effect on maintaining and raising soil temperature and preventing freezing injury.

Whitewashing tree trunks: in early spring, we can use whitewash to brush the trunks and main branches, which can both delay the phenological period and kill insects and prevent freezing. The method for preparing the whitewash is as follows: 10 parts water, 3 parts quicklime, 0.5 parts lime sulfur mixture, 0.5 parts salt, and a little oil and fat, then stir evenly.

II. Remedy measures for late spring frost damage in fruit trees

1. Remedy during the flowering period

When the flower receptacle has not been damaged, Tianda solution can be sprayed in time to promote parthenocarpy and make up for a certain amount of yield loss.

For fruit trees whose flowers have not finished blooming, manual pollination should be carried out immediately, and 0.3% borax plus 1% sucrose solution should be sprayed on the leaves to increase the fruit-setting rate of the fruit trees.

Strengthen comprehensive soil, fertilizer and water management to nourish the roots and strengthen the fruit trees, promote fruit development, increase single fruit weight, and minimize fruit tree yield loss.

Strengthen comprehensive pest and disease control to reduce tree weakening and economic losses caused by pests and diseases.

2. Remedy after flowering

Delay pruning and protect wounds: the pruning time of fruit trees should be appropriately postponed to avoid creating new wounds, which helps distinguish frostbitten buds from frostbitten branches and ensures the yield and tree growth of fruit trees to the greatest extent. After low temperatures, pruning should minimize wounds, and pruning wound oil should be used promptly to protect the wounds; for the pruning and saw cuts of trees that have already been pruned and whose strips have not been protected, pruning wound oil should be used for protection. At the same time, after fruit trees sprout, check and cut back frozen-dead branches, and strictly prevent the outbreak and spread of apple rot disease after freezing injury.

Timely pest and disease control: after freezing, the tree body of fruit trees is often weakened and has poor resistance. In summer and autumn, it is prone to resin disease and rot disease, so fruit tree wounds should be promptly smeared with agents for disinfection.

Strengthen soil, fertilizer and water management: we need to apply special fertilizer for fruit trees as a topdressing, combined with spraying foliar fertilizer. In addition, timely intertillage and soil loosening are needed to raise soil temperature.

Improve cultivation measures: for apple trees whose flower buds have been damaged by freezing, we should spray foliar fertilizer before flowering and after flower drop, use bee pollination and manual supplementary pollination to increase the fruit-setting rate and increase the final yield. On this basis, fertilizer and water management can be strengthened to promote vigorous tree growth, achieve scientific fruit thinning, further increase apple yield and quality, and reduce economic losses.

During late spring frost damage in fruit trees, prevention should be the main approach and remedy supplementary. Fruit grower friends should actively do the relevant work of preventing late spring frost and minimize losses.