Winter Care Tips for Your Orchard

Winter Care Tips Review

As the colder months are upon us, it’s important to prepare your fruit trees for the winter season to ensure they stay healthy and strong through the colder months. Proper winterization not only helps your trees survive but also ensures a fruitful harvest in the spring. To help you get your trees ready, we’ve put together a few essential tips on how to winterize your fruit trees effectively.

1. Water Thoroughly Before the Freeze

Make sure your trees in the ground receive a deep watering before the ground freezes if normal rainfall in your location is minimal or your soil is still on the dry side. Make sure potted plants that are outside are also well watered prior to periods of freezing temperatures. This ensures that their roots have enough moisture to carry them through the dormant season. 

2. Mulch for Insulation

Apply a 3-4 inch layer of mulch around the base of your fruit trees after your tree is fully dormant and before the ground freezes more than a ½” or so. Mulch helps insulate the soil, retain moisture, and protect the roots from temperature fluctuations. Just be sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the tree trunk to prevent rot and extend the mulch out to your tree’s drip line. Young trees or marginally adapted trees will particularly benefit from the mulching.

3. Protect the Trunk

Young or thin-barked trees are especially vulnerable to winter sunscald and frost damage. We recommend wrapping the trunk with white tree wrap or commercial trunk protectors. This will shield the main trunk from harsh winds and reflect the sun's winter glare. You can also use white interior latex paint mixed half/half with water on the trunk to reflect the sun's rays and prevent sunscald.

4. Prune with Care

While pruning is important, avoid heavy pruning in the fall. Instead, focus on removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Heavy pruning can begin after your trees are fully dormant through late winter to early spring before new growth starts, with a couple of exceptions. If fruit trees tend to accumulate weather and disease-related damage during the winter it is best to wait until late winter, so you only have to prune one time. Delay pruning stone fruits until early spring when their buds begin to swell, to minimize fungal infections in your pruning cuts. If pseudomonas disease is a concern in your region delay pruning of Asian pears until after the spring rains have ended, or prune immediately following fruit harvest. Tip-bearing apple varieties, such as Thompkins King, are pruned in the spring after the new growth is out about 4-6” if your goal is to encourage branching. Plants that bleed when they are pruned need to be pruned while they are fully dormant during the winter, including kiwi, grape, and fig. And, of course, it’s best if you have a dry day when you prune, also remember to sanitize your pruning tools frequently, especially when moving from one tree to the next. 

Inspect trees following winter storms for damage. Make clean cuts where there are ragged tears and breaks. Only use tree seal products on wounds that are larger than 12” across and avoid treating the outside inch or so.

5. Guard Against Rodents and Deer

Rodents and deer can cause serious damage to your fruit trees during the winter. Protect young trees from rodents and rabbits by wrapping the base of the trunk with tree guards or hardware cloth. For deer, consider installing fencing around the tree or you could try using repellents to keep them at bay.

6. Pests and Diseases

If during the growing season, you notice aphids, mealy bugs, scale, or other types of pests that overwinter or deposit eggs in the bark crevices of your trees be prepared to use horticultural oil or another pest control method to treat them in late winter. 

The first spray to control Peach Leaf Curl disease west of the Cascade mountains in the PNW is applied between Christmas and New Year, with 2-3 more sprays at 1-month intervals. East of the Cascade mountains the first spray is applied late winter. Your local extension office will be able to advise you on the best spray application timing for wintertime pest and disease control.

Addressing overwintering pest issues early can prevent large spring infestations.

8. Cover Young Bushes and Trees

Young bushes and trees are especially susceptible to winter stresses. If you are in a location that tends to experience cold dry wind or heavy snow fall consider wrapping your young trees or shrubs in breathable fabric, such as burlap or frost blankets, to protect them from cold winds and snow. Wrap the plants after they are fully dormant, or just prior to the first significant winter weather event. 

9. Prevent Snow and Ice Damage

If heavy snow or some ice builds up on your tree limbs during the winter, gently remove it with a broom or rake. This can prevent branches from breaking under the weight. However, if there is a lot of ice be careful to only aim for the icicles, trying to knock off ice surrounding the branches could damage the tree.