Fall is upon us. This is the time when following a few easy preventive steps will protect your fruit trees from disease and give them a head start for the following growing season.
Five Easy Steps
- Continue to Harvest Your Fruit
It is important to pick all your fruit in a timely manner and not let it get overripe.
Overripe fruit attracts pests such as wasps, possums and raccoons. - Rake Leaves
Rake fallen leaves from under the tree to protect your tree from harboring leaf-born diseases and prevent sheltering of garden mice and rats. - Pick Fruit Carefully
To prevent stems from breaking, grasp fruit from the bottom, gently lift and twist. For excess fruit, get your baking recipes out, get your caning utensils ready and share your wonderful produce with your neighbors. Do not can any fruit with bruises or flaws as it can spoil your entire yield. - No Major Pruning During Fall
Prune trees when they are dormant, which is usually during the months of January, through March, before flowering begins. Pruning too late will prevent the trees from having the "strength" to handle the Winter season. If you prune late in the Fall, it will cause the new growth to die. - No Fertilizing
Fertilization should happen immediately before the trees bloom or their leaves sprout, which usually occurs in February or March.
Always remember, it is very important to supply your trees with enough water, until the rains begin.
If you follow these suggestions, you will succeed in maintaining a healthy orchard. Enjoy the stunning Fall colors and the bounty of your harvest!
contributed by Bernardo Lopez Garden Designs
