Spring Fruit Tree Care Guideline
Understanding how to care for fruit trees in Rochester, NY is not so different from caring for other trees in the spring. And growing fruit trees gives you both beauty and reward in the spring. Fruit trees let you have tasty fruits without even having to go to the market!
But to get these tasty treats at your fingertips, you will have to give some caring and attention to them to make sure that they are growing healthy in the spring season. Feeding the trees and keeping an eye on them will make a huge difference and give you the best fruits you could ever have.
If you are living in Rochester, NY, and looking for proper guidance on spring fruit tree care, here’s everything that you need to know!
Caring for Fruit Trees in Spring – Tips & Tricks
Watering
Having proper water schedules is one of the main factors you should consider to have healthy and fruiting trees in the spring. Spring is the season when the trees emerge from the dormancy stage. Therefore, it requires more water to start growing again which will eventually help in flowering and fruiting. There are two main stages of spring where you should control the frequency of watering the fruit trees:
Early Spring Stage
Since this is the end of the dormancy stage of fruit trees, they require more water. Check whether the soil around the base of the trees is dry. If so, water them more. Don’t do this often unless the soil is dry. Also, look out for the weather conditions before you do the watering because Rochester, NY has a very unpredictable rain pattern. Fruit trees require about 25-50 mm of water per week at this stage.
Late Spring Stage
This is where your fruit trees will start blossoming. At this stage, maintaining the moisture of the soil is important. But make sure you don’t over-water it. It will make the root system rotten. One of the best tips that would work is watering in the morning and letting the soil absorb the water.
Pruning
Pruning will encourage the growing and fruiting process of a fruit tree, and early spring is the best time of the year to do this. Because this is the time when the trees grow and recover actively and quickly. Pruning helps fruit trees in many ways; removing dead or damaged branches, proper air circulation, and better exposure to sunlight.
We do not encourage you to prune trees in the bloom or late seasons of spring. This is the time the fruit trees grow and the sap has started flowing again. There’s a high risk of exposure to diseases and damage if they are cut.
Soil
Soil with a good structure is the pillar of healthy growing fruit trees. The pH of the soil plays an important role as it directly affects the availability of nutrients and beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Most fruit trees prefer a pH level of 6-7. Some nutrients that trees require to grow become unavailable at other different pH levels.
Applying compost in spring will renew the soil structure and increase the levels of essential nutrients. A good compost can also help in retaining moisture and promoting healthy growth of roots.
If you have clay-based or sand-based soil on your property, consider adding a compost layer. It will help retain the moisture and nutrient levels of the soil.
Feeding
The best time to fertilize the fruit trees is the early spring. Fruiting trees need an uplifting of nutrients to increase the levels of growth. Fertilizing at the right time will enrich the harvest. It is recommended to perform a soil test before you use any fertilizer. Because both lacking and excess levels of nutrients can cause different issues to the fruiting trees.
Controlling pests and diseases
Pests and diseases become more active during the spring season. Early detections and precautions will help protect your fruit trees and let them grow healthy. Our guide on ‘Tree Diseases in Rochester, NY’ will help you to identify different diseases and pests, and to take action against them. Try using organic and homemade solutions to control or eradicate them as they are 100% safe on fruit trees.
Mulching
Adding a layer of mulch at the base of the tree will bring many benefits. It will help in retaining moisture and regulating the soil temperature. Mulching also helps in keeping the weeds from growing.
Staking
If you have young fruit trees on your property that produce loads of fruits, this step would be important. It will also prevail them from wind blows. Stakes are usually a support to your fruit trees to stand still. Make sure you use an angled stake as placing a stake near the base could damage the roots.
Worried about Tree Care in Spring?: Contact Bills Tree Removal
If you are living in the Rochester, NY area and think that you need help and guidance in spring tree care, we, at Bills Tree Removal are here to help you. We understand that you need help with certain tasks like testing the soil and selecting fertilizers according to the needs of your fruit trees.
Our professionals and certified arborists are ready to help you with any issue in spring tree care in Rochester, NY. Contact us Now.