In winter, although the trees are dormant, it is the ideal time to prepare for the next fruiting season. Between protection against the cold, pruning and maintenance, the care carried out during the bad season helps strengthen your tree and reduce the risk of disease.
Pome fruit trees, like apple trees, are pruned in winter. This is in fact the ideal season, because the sap circulates more slowly during this period. Pruning wounds will therefore heal better and more quickly. This way, your apple tree will be less exposed to potential diseases.
The size of an apple tree in winter has several objectives:
Prune your apple tree in December or January, on a sunny day and dry weather, without any immediate risk of frost. If this is not possible, you can wait until February, or even early March. Proceed by following the following steps:
For young people, a training size is essential to ensure a balanced apple tree:
Take advantage of pruning to remove moss and lichens from the bark, which can harbor undesirables. Also remove dead leaves at its base which is a wintering place for pests.
Your apple tree needs some specific care in winter to face the cold season well and prepare to produce beautiful fruits in spring. To protect the trunk of young trees, wrap it with a winter veil or a special sleeve: this will prevent cracking due to frost as well as burns from the winter sun. You can also apply a special white paint, called “milk of lime” or arboreal whitewash, which acts as a shield against temperature variations, while preventing certain insects from settling there through its insecticide action.
Maintaining the trunk and branches will also help prevent the appearance of pests. To do this, gently brush the bark to eliminate parasite eggs, then install pheromone traps to limit infestations of pests, such as codling moth. Don’t forget to fertilize the soil by adding a layer of mature compost or well-rotted manure around the tree, being careful not to directly touch the trunk. This nutrient contribution will give a boost to future fruit production. If necessary, also check the pH of the soil: apple trees like slightly acidic soils, which promote their growth and health.
