Fruit Tree Care notes

Here are the GardenAdvice recommended tasks for fruit tree maintenance for organic pest control and feeding. For notes on pruning fruit trees ( apples ) click here 

Pest and disease control

• Winter Wash
  • Purpose: Winter washes are used to control overwintering pests and their eggs on fruit trees. They are especially effective against aphids, mites, and scale insects.
  • When to Apply: Apply in late autumn or early winter when the trees are dormant. It’s important not to apply during freezing weather as it can damage the tree.
  • How to Apply: Use winter wash  such as Vitax winter wash or a homemade solution like diluted horticultural oil or soap. Thoroughly spray the entire tree, covering all branches and the trunk. Ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Precautions: Avoid using winter washes on very young trees or on trees that are in leaf or starting to come into leaf. 
• Grease Bands

• Purpose: Grease bands are designed to trap crawling insects like ants and winter moth caterpillars that climb up the trunk to feed on the tree or lay eggs.
• When to Apply: Apply grease bands in early autumn or late winter  before insects start moving up the tree.
• How to Apply: Wrap the grease band around the trunk of the tree, usually a few feet above the ground. The band should be snug but not tight enough to cut into the bark. Smear a sticky substance (like horticultural grease) on the band.
• Maintenance: Check and renew the grease regularly to ensure its effectiveness, especially after rain.
• Precautions: Be careful not to trap any beneficial insects. Also, ensure the band is placed high enough to be out of the reach of pets and small children.

Feeding

Feeding fruit trees properly throughout the year is crucial for their health and productivity. Your approach of using Growmore fertiliser during the winter and a high potash feed, like liquid tomato feed, during spring and summer is a sound strategy. Here’s a breakdown of why this method works well:

• Winter Feeding with Growmore Fertilizer:
  • Timing: Winter is a period of dormancy for most fruit trees. Feeding them during this time helps prepare them for vigorous growth in spring.
  • Nutrient Composition: Growmore is a balanced fertiliser, typically providing equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K). This balanced feed supports root development and general health of the tree during its dormant phase.
• Spring and Summer Feeding with High Potash Feed:
  • Timing: As the tree enters its growing season in spring and progresses through summer, it requires more nutrients to support leaf growth, flowering, and fruiting.
  • Nutrient Composition: High potash (potassium) feeds, like liquid tomato feed, are beneficial during this phase. Potassium is crucial for flower and fruit development. It helps in improving fruit quality, colour, and taste.
  • Frequency: Feeding once every three weeks is a good schedule. It provides consistent nutrition without overfeeding, which is important as excessive feeding can lead to lush foliage at the expense of fruit and can also increase the risk of pest and disease problems.