Three Ways To Prevent Fungal Infections In Fruit Trees
Posted on: 17 November 2015
There are numerous fungal infections that can harm your fruit tree and your fruit crop. From brown rot, which leaves fruit rotten and inedible, to powdery mildew disease, which causes fuzzy patches on the fruit's skin, these diseases are quite undesirable. Thankfully, if you take the three following steps, you can greatly reduce your trees' risk of contracting one of these fungal infections.
Prune your tree every spring.
The denser your tree's branches, the longer it stays moist after a rain storm. Moist branches are the perfect environment for fungi to grow and proliferate. When you have your tree pruned regularly, its branches stay more dispersed and dry off more quickly, reducing the chance of a fungal infection. If you are pruning the tree yourself, be sure to focus on removing older branches rather than newer ones. Also, try to ensure there is plenty of space between the branches you leave, so air can reach them all. If you are inexperienced with pruning trees, it's a good idea to hire a professional to do this so you don't end up doing more harm than good by removing too many or the wrong branches.
Clean up fallen fruits, leaves and branches promptly.
Fallen leaves, fruits, and branches near the base of the tree can become a place where fungi proliferate. Eventually, they release their spores, and they do not have to travel far to settle on and infect your fruit tree. To avoid this situation, make sure you clean up fallen fruit every couple of days during the harvesting season. Don't wait and count on doing it all at once! Likewise, rake up fallen leaves often during the fall rather than letting them linger. Dispose of them far away from your fruit trees or burn them so they cannot breed and spread fungal infections.
Have your tree sprayed with fungicides.
Fungicides are not 100% effective at preventing infections, which is why you need to perform the steps above, too. However, having your tree sprayed with a copper-based fungicide as soon as the fruit appears will go a long way towards ensuring the health of your crop. You can purchase fruit tree fungicide sprays at most gardening stores. If you're having a professional out to prune your tree, they may also offer spraying services as a part of an all-around tree care package.
Preventing fungal infections in fruit trees is an ongoing battle. However, if you follow the steps above each season, you should be able to avoid the crop destruction that these diseases bring. For more information, talk to a place like Kansas City Tree Care, LLC.
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