How to care for your new fruit tree
If you have just recently planted your first fruit tree, it's probably safe to assume you are not yet an expert on the subject. A lot of fruit trees die in their first year due to poor poor knowledge on behalf of the gardener. So it is vital that you understand how to care for your new fruit tree in such a way that will ensure it's
longevity and productivity.
Fruiting in the first year
During the first stages of the tree’s life, the roots, trunk, and branches may not yet have fully developed to full strength. If your tree starts producing fruit in it's first year, the weight is sometimes enough to snap off an entire branch. If this is the case, you can provide external support for your branches, but you may also want to consider removing some or most of the immature fruit before this becomes a problem. If your tree is fruiting heavily while so young, this diverts energy the tree could be putting put into growth. So another reason to remove immature fruit on your young tree is to encourage more growth of the tree itself.
A very heavily fruiting, mature mandarin tree.
Photo credit morgueFile
Nutrition for fruit trees
Proper nutrition for your tree will optimize any results you're hoping to see, and will also help your tree develop into a healthy, strong specimen. Exactly what your tree needs will depend on the area, climate, and type of tree you have, and a good place to get information on this is at your local nursery. You can tell them about the conditions your tree is living in, how healthy it is looking, and they should be able to help you find what you need to improve the outlook for your tree.
Too much water?
Many people think that the best way to ensure a tree’s health is to provide large amounts of water, but this is probably not the case. Giving the tree too much water can do more harm than good, as it can wash the nutrition your tree needs out of the soil. And if your tree is in an area without good drainage, having wet roots all the time will case them to rot. A deep watering twice a week in summer is probably all it needs and quite possibly no extra watering will be needed at all.
Mulch
It is a good idea to provide you tree with some mulch, this helps it conserve water in the heat and can keep weeds down around the trunk. Be careful not to mulch right up to the trunk though as this can cause the trunk to rot; keep an area clear right around the trunk. Sugar cane mulch or straw are very good mulches to use for fruit trees.
Liquid fertilizer
I am a fan of organic fertilizers, so I recommend making our own weed or compost tea, using the liquid from a worm farm....dilute it though as this is rather potent, or using a fish emulsion. Giving your tree a dose of fish emulsion when it is first planted can help your tree settle in to it's new home.
Mature fruiting apple tree.
Photo credit morgueFile.
Older fruiting trees
If your tree has started fruiting, never leave any of the fruit on the ground to rot. Once dropped fruit begins to rot, it provides a perfect home for unwanted insects or diseases that can then start to annoy your tree. If you are picking the fruit, remove it carefully, be sure not to tear the branches.
If you follow these simple tips, you can be sure that your tree will enjoy a healthy, productive life.
Remember to ask your local plant nursery staff if you have any unusual tree problems.
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