Problems and Diseases in spring

Although it is not difficult to grow fruit trees there are still some common concerns it is worth being aware of. As they say in the Scouts – ‘Be prepared’.

1. Late frost

This one always takes us unawares.  We think that the winter is over, get in to the garden to get things moving for the spring, and then suddenly Jack Frost puts in a late appearance. As the majority of fruit trees and bushes flower in early spring this can be damaging to the blossoms and will then prevent your tree from baring fruit that year. To avoid this you can plant in more sheltered spots in the garden so your tree or bush flowers later in the year or cover it with fleece in the colder months. However if you choose the latter option you will still need to allow pollinators access to the flowers to fertilise them in order to get a good fruit crop.

2.       Pests

Anything from a bird to a slug, a red spider mite to a moth, can be detrimental to your crop.  It is important to encourage certain natural predators to control pest problems. You can plant flowers which attract ladybirds to eat aphids or encourage hedgehogs in to the garden to eat slugs.  On the other hand more direct methods are required for certain pests, for example, to deter red spider mites you can gently shower the crop with water or  you can hoe around the base of your plants to dig up raspberry beetle and big bud mite pupae in the soil during the winter, then burn any infected areas. 

Here is an example of a 'good' insect - a green orb spider to catch the flies

3.       Poor drainage

This is the most common reason why fruit trees and bushes do not survive. Poor drainage can lead to the roots of your tree or bush becoming saturated and in effect the plant drowns. However it is possible to test if this will be an issue prior to choosing which crop you are going to plant. To see what your soil drainage is like, dig a hole about 50cm deep and wide.  Fill it with water and assess how long it takes to drain – longer than 3 hours would suggest that the ground as poor drainage.  This can be overcome by thoroughly digging out the area and mixing some organic matter in with the soil to open in up. Alternatively you could plant on a raised bed, using the soil around the main stem to form a mound that any excess water will run off from. There are also some fruit trees that cope better in wetter soils than others so make sure you choose wisely and get some advice before purchasing if you are concerned about drainage.

4.       Disease

Sometimes things just simply cannot be avoided but there are lots of ways you can help prevent your crop from catching a disease. Firstly it is important to keep the area where the tree is growing clear of fallen fruit, leaves or pruning clippings. Any pruning should be done during dry cool weather to prevent any open wounds from becoming infected.  There are lots of potential fruit tree diseases but most are quite rare and can be dealt with professionally if necessary. If you ensure you provide the best environment for your tree or bush to grow in with a good level of nutrients and moisture in the soil then you should not come across many problems.