Winter Fruit Tree Management: These Six Key Points Are Very Important
The Major Snow solar term has passed, which also means we are stepping further into the cold winter. Many fruit trees have already finished being harvested in autumn, and most have entered dormancy. So what are the key points of winter fruit tree management? These six points are very important!
1. Clean the orchard
Around November or after 90% of the fruit trees in the orchard have dropped their leaves, the orchard should be thoroughly cleaned. All waste and debris in the orchard that could become hiding places for pathogens and pests, such as moldy dead branches, fallen dead leaves, leftover fruit, weeds, discarded plastic mulch, and fertilizer bags, must be completely cleared away and taken out of the orchard. After the orchard cleaning is completed and before the fruit buds sprout, apply 2-3 rounds of pesticide for disease and pest control to the whole orchard in separate applications (such as 3-5 degrees Baumé lime sulfur mixture), so as to fully disinfect the orchard and further kill pathogens and pests.
2. Deep plowing of the soil
Every year from when the fruit trees enter winter dormancy until the warmth returns in early spring the following year, the soil from the surface down to 15 cm in the orchard often harbors a large number of pathogens and pests. If we can carry out a full-orchard deep plowing and sun-drying before winter, it can concentrate and kill overwintering pathogens and pests.
3. Winter irrigation and watering
During the overwintering process of fruit trees, winter irrigation is needed to ensure that the soil has a sufficient water supply, thereby raising the ground temperature and enhancing the tree's drought resistance and cold resistance. At the same time, winter irrigation and watering can also accelerate the decomposition of fertilizer in the soil, thus promoting the absorption of nutrients by the fruit tree roots and improving the fertility of the orchard soil.
4. Whitewashing the tree trunks
Whitewashing fruit trees is also an important part of winter fruit tree management. By whitewashing the main trunk and large branches of fruit trees, it has a very good protective effect in helping the fruit trees overwinter smoothly. Generally, the best time for whitewashing the tree trunks is after the fruit trees drop their leaves and before the soil freezes. The whitewash formula can be prepared according to the ratio of 10 parts quicklime + 2 parts lime sulfur mixture (or sulfur powder) + 2 parts salt + 2 parts fine clay (or flour) + 40 parts clean water.
5. Apply sufficient base fertilizer
In order to replenish the depleted nutrients of the tree, promote the accumulation of enough overwintering nutrients in the fruit trees before winter, and help the fruit trees recover from weakness as quickly as possible, base fertilizer should be applied in sufficient quantity as early as possible after the fruit is picked and before the leaves fall. Fertilization can be carried out throughout the orchard in combination with deep plowing and irrigation. The specific operation should flexibly choose methods such as strip fertilization, hole fertilization, or ring fertilization according to the actual conditions such as tree age and soil moisture.
6. Reasonable pruning
After a year of growth, fruit trees are prone to developing a disordered tree shape. In order to form a good canopy structure, extend the economic lifespan, and achieve high quality and stable yield, deciduous fruit trees should be shaped and pruned in winter from late December to January. Generally, young trees and vigorous trees should be pruned lightly; old trees and weak trees should be pruned heavily; trees in the full fruiting period and those with medium vigor should be pruned to regulate the next year's growth and fruiting.
Winter is very critical for fruit tree management, as it directly affects their growth and fruit set rate the following year. I hope the above six points can help all fruit growers.