Don't Make These Apple Tree Mistakes Before Winter., by Survival Knowledge on YouTube. 16 min 51 s.
- Video length
- 16 min 51 s
- Time to do it
- 1 to 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Stop giving the tree nitrogen-rich feed in late summer and autumn. Soft new growth made late in the year is easily damaged by frost.
Water deeply during any dry autumn spell, especially young trees. Soak the soil out to the edge of the branches, then let it drain.
Rake up fallen leaves and pick up rotten or mummified fruit from under the tree. Bin or burn them rather than adding them to compost.
Pull weeds in a ring around the trunk and loosen the top few centimetres of soil. Work shallowly so you do not cut into surface roots.
Spread a 5 to 10 cm layer of well-rotted compost or bark mulch over the cleared ring. Keep it about 10 cm away from the trunk so the bark can breathe.
Cut out only dead, damaged or crossing branches with clean secateurs. Leave heavy structural pruning until the tree is fully dormant in midwinter.
Check the stake and ties on young trees and loosen any that are biting into the bark. Add a spiral guard or mesh to keep rabbits and mice off the trunk.
Wrap the trunk of a young or thin-barked tree with horticultural fleece or a tree guard if hard frost is forecast. Leave the top open so air can circulate.
Tips and common mistakes
Never pile mulch against the trunk, as it traps damp and invites rot and rodent damage.
Heavy autumn pruning leaves wounds open to frost and disease, so keep it to a tidy-up only.
Leaving fallen leaves under the tree shelters disease and pests through the winter, so clear them every year.
Water young trees through dry spells even when the weather is cold, since their roots are still shallow.
Questions
When should I prune an apple tree properly?
Do the main pruning in midwinter while the tree is fully dormant, and avoid pruning during hard frost. Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches in autumn if they are in the way.
Can I use grass clippings or fresh manure as mulch?
Fresh manure can burn roots and grass clippings mat down and go sour. Use well-rotted compost or bark mulch instead, spread in a ring that stops short of the trunk.
Do I still need to water an apple tree in autumn?
Yes, if the soil is dry. A tree going into winter short of water copes badly with cold, so soak it deeply a few times before the ground freezes.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
