Fruit trees are starting to renew, grow and bloom, which is a beautiful sight. To get the most out of them, here are a few things you can do to help them thrive.
Prune and shape the tree by removing dead, damaged or diseased wood.
Thin the tree out, to maximise the airflow and sunlight that gets to the tree and creates a healthier environment.
Reduce the fruit clusters on a branch to get larger, healthier fruit.
Look out for -
Aphids - if you see them spray with a water, oil and mild soap mix.
Codling moths – netting the tree will stop those.
Leaf curl – remove the infected leaves.
Keep the soil moist by watering infrequently, but deeply.
Mulch
Fertilise.
Cover with wildlife / bird friendly netting.
And then just keep an eye on the trees and monitor until ready to enjoy!
Peter