Pomona Fruits’ Top Tips for Winter Tree Care

Winter – Dormancy and Preparation

We’re accustomed to viewing winter as a time when plants are physiologically dormant, and you probably imagine that your fruit trees are completely inert during the cold winter months. Of course there’s a lot of truth to this, but it’s not only a matter of hibernation – some trees depend on the winter chill to initiate the hormonal cascade which leads to a decent crop of fruit the following year. Apples, which evolved in central Asia where winters are very cold, require more than 1000 hours at less than 7°C to flower and fruit properly.

There’s not a lot you can do to ensure a cold enough winter for your apple trees, but you can prune them to increase their chances of producing a good crop next season. Apples and pears alike are best pruned during late autumn and winter, before they’ve begun to grow again. Pruning is your opportunity to remove dead, damaged or diseased stems and branches, and to thin out crowded or congested areas.

It’s worth noting here that stone fruit trees (plums, peaches, nectarines and cherries) should never be pruned in winter but in spring and summer, when they’re actively growing. This reduces the risk of infection by Bacterial Canker and Silver Leaf disease.

For more information, visit pomonafruits.co.uk

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