Fruit Crops

Fruit Tree Cold Injury

Gardeners are disappointed when a portion or all of a small or tree fruit planting dies. Injury to the trunk, crown (area at the soil line) or roots generally is the primary cause of death. Winter cold, poorly-drained soil, mouse and rabbit feeding damage, root and crown diseases and borers- alone or in combination-can all cause loss of plants. Death of plants can result from two or more of these factors interacting to weaken or injure a plant; therefore, it may survive.

Winter injury to fruit plants occurs in the lower trunk, crown or roots near the soil surface. If damage destroys all inner bark tissue, the plant will die shortly after growth begins in spring. Damaged inner bark will turn brown, while healthy bark will appear greenish yellow. Severe damage often results in bark splitting or loosening, but this is not always the case. Spring frosts or freezes may cause loss of fruit or leaves, but plants themselves will generally survive if given proper care following the cold period.

Even moderate cold injury to bark, however, makes plants especially susceptible to infestation by borers and diseases such as perennial canker on stone fruits and root and crown rot diseases on apples. MORE

Oil and Other Early Season Sprays for Apple and Pear Trees

Early spring is the best time to apply sprays to control certain insects, mites, and diseases on apple and pear (domestic and oriental) trees. Gardeners who have had problems with certain pests and diseases in the past year should consider applying early season sprays to prevent or minimize pest damage to the leaves and fruit of apple and pear trees. Additional applications of fungicides or insecticides sprays during the growing season may be necessary to control specific pests that are not present during the dormant and early season. Applying the proper sprays early in the growing season should minimize the use of pesticides during the remainder of the growing season. MORE