Not so long ago, we covered the topics of small orchard installations on your property and early spring tree care and diagnostics. Our readers were very much interested in tips, tricks and advice from our tree service Mendota, IL experts on how to manage their fruit trees these months and what should they know in order to have bountiful and healthy fruit trees all year long. Our tree service Peru, IL colleagues gave them a hand in putting together a short how-to guide on fruit trees management and spring care, so let’s see what they all have to say.

1. Inspect the Trees and Look for Signs of Damages

This is a normal spring tree care activity no matter if you grow fruit trees or decorative ones. Look for post-winter damages, snow mold formations, fungal infections or damages at the bark, branches and roots levels. Inspect the foliage to be green and healthy – compared to burnt, curled or dry. Make sure there are no pests’ attacks and check for environmental factors that may have affected the trees’ surrounding areas, including the lawn or the vegetation around the trees.

2. Add Mulch

Fruit trees do well if the area surrounding them is properly mulched rather if they are left in the lawn. Ask your tree service Mendota, IL specialists to help you add a clean and healthy layer of mulch around the trees, making sure that it doesn’t touch the trees’ bark. Mulch helps the soil preserve its moisture, nourishes the trees and keeps pests and disease at bay. A good layer of mulch also ensures that your fruit trees will get even more productive during their fruiting season.

3. Prune the Trees

This is a major fruit tree care activity and should be done during the early spring months, when the fruit trees are still dormant. Pruning ensures healthy and bountiful trees by building them a stronger framework and contributing to an easier airflow through the tree. New plantings should also go through a pruning and training process in order to develop healthy and strong frameworks. Depending on the species of fruit trees grown, you have to choose between a central leader training method (suitable for apple trees) and an open center system (suitable for stone fruit trees, such as the peach ones).

4. Fertilize the Trees Properly

Tree fertilization is a rather tricky business, as over-fertilization will encourage vegetation growth in the detriment of fruit crops. You should ask your local tree service Mendota, IL team of experts to tailor you a proper fruit trees fertilization plan to ensure your trees grow healthy and yield bountiful crops in the same time. Same principles apply to pest and disease control. The use of improper substances might affect the trees’ health and crops’ quality, so make sure you are assisted by competent tree service Mendota, IL providers.

If you are at the beginning of your gardening career, a reliable tree service Mendota, IL company can help you pick the right trees for your property and your needs, while constantly helping you to care for any established or newly planted orchard.