Preparing your orchard for winter: Best practices for fruit growers
During winter months is a critical period for orchard care. Ensuring trees remain healthy and productive for the following growing season needs proper preparation to minimize risks from bad and harsh weather conditions.
There are several challenges growers face during this critical time and for that, we have compiled a list with the essential practices that will help you protect your orchard and ensure the best performance for the next season.
1. Last fungicide application before pruning
This step is key in controlling fungal diseases and preventing the spread of spores as by treating the fallen leaves, you help close the wounds, reducing the risk of fruit tree cancer infection. Taking action now creates a healthier environment for your trees and prepares them for the upcoming season. Winter is also the perfect time to assess and adjust your disease management strategy for the future, ensuring better protection next year.
2. Pruning to promote productive growth
Removing unproductive or overcrowded branches allows sunlight and air to reach the tree’s canopy, setting the stage for balanced and productive growth. Proper pruning prepares trees for the new growing season by improving light penetration for better photosynthesis and creating space for new fruit wood.
Some growers use mechanical pruning machines to manage the tops and sides of trees. Mechanically sawing the tops helps improve TreeScout’s vigor maps, as all trees start growing from the same height, creating a uniform baseline. However, mechanical pruning must be complemented with careful correction: removing weak, spent fruit wood, heavy shoots, and excess growth, while ensuring enough shoots remain to serve as future fruiting wood.
Insights from TreeScout’s vigor maps can further enhance your pruning strategy, helping you make well-informed decisions for optimal orchard growth and yield.
3. Shredding Pruned Branches to Reduce Fungal Spores
Instead of leaving pruned branches to decay, shredding them with a flail mower during slightly frozen conditions can be a game-changer. This method promotes decomposition while reducing fungal spores in the orchard.
4. Inspecting irrigation systems
Winter is the perfect time to inspect and make adjustments to your irrigation system. You will first have to ensure all remaining water is drained from the pipes to prevent any damage from the water freezing with low temperatures. A well-maintained system is critical for efficient water management in the growing season ahead.
5. Protecting young trees
Young trees are especially vulnerable to winter challenges, hence the importance of ensuring proper and timely actions for protection. It is important to protect their roots from temperature fluctuations and avoid frost cracks by applying compost. Also, a reduction in fertilizer application at this stage also prevents a rapid and weak growth that could harm their resilience.
6. Perform your agronomic evaluation of every fields’ performance with the TreeScout
Winter is the perfect time for a detailed agronomic evaluation. Reviewing your thinning strategy and fertilizer regime based on last season’s performance will be a key activity to invest during winter months. Have there been improvements since implementing new tools like the TreeScout?
By using tree-level insights, you can refine these practices and ensure every decision is backed by data, helping you achieve a more homogeneous orchard.
7. Root pruning for a balanced tree with higher production
Performing root pruning during cold and dry winter conditions will reduce stress on trees and encourage a healthier growth, as it is important conditions are good for root pruning. Using the TreeScout’s vigor map will help identify high-vigor trees that may require root pruning, even from both sides on extremely vigorous cases. This targeted approach can significantly improve flower bud formation for next year and the wood matures better, especially important for strong trees
8. Mapping tree positions in newly planted trees
To be prepared for blossom mapping, on newly planted trees it is important to have accurate tree positions. Scanning your trees with the TreeScout before the blossom phase begins ensures you’re prepared for the upcoming season. This data lays the foundation for precision orchard management and helps streamline future tasks like thinning and fertilization.
Winter orchard preparation it’s about setting up your orchard for success in the seasons ahead. From pruning strategies to advanced technologies like the TreeScout. These practices empower growers to make informed and data-driven decisions. By investing time in winter care, you’ll ensure healthier trees, higher yields, and more consistent quality.
9. Frost Sprinkler and Equipment Maintenance
Before spring frost, it is important to check your frost sprinklers and fans. During winter season and disuse, sprinklers can clog, and waterlines can suffer from frost damage or ruptures. Reason why winter is the perfect time. Ensuring these systems are in good condition and ready to operate, will prevent delays when frost protection is urgently needed. Proper maintenance ensures your trees are protected during critical blooming periods.
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