Ensure the Right Winter Care for Fruit Trees in Northern California
Tips to Improve Tree Health and Yield
Although your fruit trees might lie dormant until spring, they need protection from cold temperatures, pest infestations, rodent problems and any type of damage to the tree’s structure. Simple measures like cleaning out fallen leaves and using dormant-season sprays, for example, help to deter pests and fight disease. Here are some expert tips on winter care for your fruit trees in Northern California.
Caring for Your Fruit-Bearing Trees in Winter
- Clean out dead leaves: They are likely to have insect eggs or fungus spores that are damaging to the health of your trees.
- Mulch: Replenish the layer of mulch under the trees before winter. Mulch will help rainwater penetrate to the roots and prevent soil erosion. Maintain a three-inch layer to prevent run-off and discourage weed growth.
- Pest control: Apply dormant oil sprays to control pests, minimize fungal infection, and curb the spread of certain diseases. These specially formulated oils are effective against soft-bodied insects such as aphids and mites, some insect eggs, as well as scale. Depending on the type of tree, its age, and overall health, your arborist may also suggest wrapping the tree trunk. This provides added protection from rodents and certain pests.
- Pruning: Removing dead, decaying, diseased, and obstructing limbs will improve light penetration and encourage healthy growth. Knowing when and how much to prune trees is important to ensuring strong growth. Dates, apricots, cherries, and plums each have different pruning schedules and requirements. Young trees will need different care than mature fruit trees.
- Examine tree structure: Damaged tree bark and limbs require timely, professional attention in order to preserve overall tree health.
- Plant new trees: Winter can be a good time for planting new fruit trees. The type of soil, amount of sunlight and growing space are important points to consider before you plant. As well, you must determine whether the new tree will need a partner for pollination to bear fruit.
Fruit Tree Management Services
Properly maintained fruit trees can provide a bountiful harvest. If you are looking to increase the yield of your existing trees or plant new ones, we can help. The Petalon team provides comprehensive services for fruit tree management. We take care of preparing the planting site, fertilizing, mowing, trimming, pruning, pest control, and weeding.
Orchard owners and property managers across Northern California including in San Jose, Fremont, Milpitas, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto, CA trust us with their fruit tree maintenance requirements.
Call 408-453-3998 or contact us online to book our services and learn more about winter care for fruit trees in Northern California.