Why is it important to clear tree trunks in the fall?

Preparing the garden for winter begins long before the onset of persistent cold weather. One of the most important stages of this work is clearing the tree trunks around fruit trees. Fallen leaves should not be left until spring; all cleaning work must be completed at the end of the season.

What is the danger?

Leaf fall is a natural process. But unlike a forest floor, a carpet of plant debris will not benefit fruit trees. After all, the autumn leaf litter harbors numerous fungal pathogens that survive and successfully overwinter on the leaves. The most dangerous for the garden are:

• powdery mildew;
• rust;
• spotting;
• scab.

Furthermore, pathogens from infected foliage easily penetrate the soil and groundwater. With the arrival of spring warmth, they can spread to other plants.

Small pests or their larvae can survive the winter in the warmth of rotting plant litter. In the spring, they continue to reproduce and attack plantings. The following insects most commonly inhabit the litter:

• spider mites;
• whitefly;
• psyllids;
• weevils;
• pipe-rolling beetles;
• codling moths (apple, pear, plum);
• silkworm.

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All these insects, if widespread, can destroy an entire crop or even the tree itself. Pest control often requires the use of chemicals over several seasons. Trees weakened by disease and insects struggle to survive, producing meager harvests.

Agricultural experts recommend clearing fallen leaves even in gardens that appear healthy at first glance. Dangerous viruses may not show any signs of infection during the summer, but can manifest in full force in the spring. Plant debris should be removed from the site or burned. Infected leaves should not be placed in compost bins. After clearing the foliage, the soil around trees can be sprayed with fungicides to prevent disease.

How to restore the biological cycle

By clearing the tree trunk area, humans interfere with the natural cycle. After all, most of the nutrients extracted from the soil are returned with fallen leaves and other tree parts. In the wild, leaf litter touches the surface of the mineral soil layer and enriches it with organic matter. Accumulated over the years and constantly processed by living organisms, it improves the structure and fertility of the soil. Furthermore, leaf litter protects the roots of young plants from freezing. While collecting leaves prevents the development of diseases and the proliferation of harmful insects and bacteria, it disrupts the normal functioning of the garden ecosystem.

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Therefore, following the autumn cleaning around the tree trunk, it is necessary to carry out several more procedures:

• dig the soil shallowly;
• apply fertilizer;
• mulch the soil;
• build protection against rodents.

Gradually rotting leaves would saturate the soil with large amounts of potassium and phosphorus. Therefore, in the fall, agriculturalists recommend fertilizing trees with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. These can be applied either dry during tillage or as a solution during watering. Among folk remedies, the best fertilizer with a high potassium content is wood ash.

Organic and inorganic materials can be used as mulch. Organic materials (straw, compost, manure) will decompose slowly like natural litter and enrich the soil with nutrients. Artificial materials (pebbles, crushed stone, spunbond) around trees give the garden a neat appearance. Regardless of the material, the mulch will replace the removed leaf litter and perform all the important functions:

• will prevent roots from freezing;
• will retain moisture until late autumn;
• will reduce weed growth.

A young garden needs additional protection from animals that can damage the delicate bark as winter approaches. To prevent rodents from accessing the trunk in search of food, install a metal or plastic mesh around the trunk. If the soil is already thick and installing mesh is not possible, wrap the lower part of the trunk with rags or roofing felt.