Apple Tree Care in the Fall: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

To ensure apple trees survive the winter without damage, maintenance begins in the fall. After the leaves fall, they are collected, dug over, and mulched. The trunk and branches are inspected for damage and infection, and sprayed with special preparations. In cold regions, young seedlings are always protected from frost to help the tree survive the winter.

Caring for an apple tree in autumn

During the fall, there are a number of steps to take to prepare apple trees and other fruit trees for winter. Depending on climate conditions, some procedures can be skipped, such as pruning in areas with short autumns, watering if there are prolonged downpours, and so on. For detailed information on how to properly care for apple trees in the fall, watch the video in this article.

Leaf removal

Fallen leaves can serve as mulch, protecting the roots from freezing. After rotting, the leaves act as fertilizer. However, they can harbor pests and fungal spores that persist over the winter and become active in the spring, causing apple trees to become diseased. Therefore, after the leaves fall, all leaves are collected. It's advisable to burn them, especially if the apple tree has been infested with fungal infections or pests such as beetles or caterpillars.

If the trees were sprayed in early spring and the seedling remained disease-free throughout the spring and summer, you can save the leaves and place them in a compost bin. Compost takes about two years to mature, reaching a temperature of 60°C. In the summer, any fungal spores or pests that were present will die. Experienced gardeners recommend treating the leaves with fungicides before composting. Adding lime to the compost bin will not only speed up the process but also provide useful fertilizer for the spring.

Read alsoPruning an Apple Tree in Spring: Step-by-Step Illustrated Instructions for Beginners Renewal of a well-maintained orchard is typically done in early spring. It's crucial to consider the activation of sap flow through the branches to avoid damaging the trees. The apple tree pruning process itself…

Digging the soil, fertilizing

After collecting the leaves, dig the soil to a depth of about 15 cm. Carefully dig to avoid damaging the roots. Digging the soil will expose the larvae of pests that hide in the soil during the winter and kill them. Also, the seeds of some weeds buried in the soil will lose their viability in the freezing temperatures.

Gardeners recommend combining tilling with the application of fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. Mineral fertilizers are applied 10-15 days after harvesting, as this is when fruit trees begin to store nutrients. If the soil is depleted, a week after applying mineral fertilizers, the soil around the seedling can be covered with well-rotted compost.

Trimming, stripping bark

Dry, damaged branches are pruned, removing 2 cm of healthy material. Lateral branches on older trees are shortened by 1/3 to rejuvenate the apple tree. If the tree is taller than 4 meters, the top can be pruned to facilitate fruit picking. A large crown impedes air circulation and light penetration. To prevent overcrowding, overlapping branches are pruned, reducing the risk of fungal infections. Branches are removed with a hacksaw or sharp pruning shears, and damaged areas are treated with garden pitch (available at specialty stores).

The bark on older trees naturally begins to thicken, and the resulting cracks can harbor insect larvae. Therefore, loose bark is scraped off with a wire brush, after laying a plastic sheet on the ground. If moss or lichen is present, these are also scraped off, and all cracks are sealed with garden pitch. Bark scraped off, especially from diseased trees, is burned.

Mulching apple trees in autumn

A method for protecting soil from excessive freezing and sudden temperature changes. There are several methods of mulching:

• protection with black film or agrofibre;
• organic fertilizer coating;
• protection with compost.

Organic protection can include bark from old trees, straw, hay, grass clippings, leaves, paper, seedless weeds, wood shavings, and sawdust. The soil around trees is often covered with marble chips, crushed stone, and gravel. Avoid applying a thick layer of mulch in wet weather, as damp soil can encourage mold, fungi, and slugs. If fallen pine needles are used as mulch, be aware that they increase soil acidity.

Wood shavings and sawdust reduce nitrogen levels. Before use, they should be mixed with nitrogen fertilizers, dolomite flour, and sand and left to sit for at least a year. Hay can harbor mice, so gardeners recommend applying mouse repellents under the mulch layer. Compost is an ideal, has no downsides. Compost containing sawdust and wood chips is considered the best.

Watering apple trees in autumn

Whether or not to water seedlings in the fall depends on the amount of precipitation. If the summer was dry, apple trees should be watered in mid-October, which is called a moisture-recharging irrigation. If rain begins in early fall, no watering is necessary. You can check whether the soil needs moisture by digging a hole about 20 cm deep under the seedling. If the soil at the bottom of the hole is moist and doesn't crumble when squeezed in your fist, there's no need to water.

Watering apple trees in the fall will help them produce more fruit in the spring. Watered branches are also less likely to break during heavy snowfalls and winds, and the bark is more resistant to low temperatures. The recommended fall watering for a young apple tree is 3-4 buckets, while for an older tree, it's about 8-10 buckets. If the soil doesn't absorb water well, you can water for 2-3 days in a row until the soil is saturated to at least 50 cm.

Protection from pests and diseases

Preventative treatment is necessary to protect apple trees from insects and diseases. Copper sulfate or other pesticides, available at specialty stores, are most commonly used. Apple trees are sprayed even if pests aren't detected; they may lay their eggs under the bark and emerge in early spring. Trees are sprayed in dry, windless weather. If bark beetle tunnels are detected on the trunk, pest control products such as Antizhuk are injected into the holes using a syringe. Bird feeders can also be installed on the trees to further help control the beetles.

Read alsoPlanting and caring for raspberries in autumn Raspberries are considered one of the most popular and widespread berry bushes in home gardens. They are prized for their ease of care and cultivation. If planted in September…

To protect apple trees from powdery mildew and scab, spray them with a urea solution (500 g of urea per bucket of water). If you don't have urea, you can prepare another solution:

• laundry soap – 50 g;
• baking soda – 400 g;
• water – 10 l.

Add baking soda and finely grated soap to the water and stir thoroughly until dissolved. These solutions can be replaced with a ready-made solution called Horus. To protect seedlings from mice and hares, the trunk is covered with roofing felt and special bandages. If the soil is mulched with sawdust, it is soaked in an oil solution of creolin. Various baits containing poisonous substances and ultrasonic repellents are also used.

Whitewash

After removing old, damaged bark, moss, and lichen, the trunk and skeletal branches are whitewashed or treated with a special paint. The purpose of whitewashing in winter:

• prevent sunburn in early spring (white color reflects sun rays);
• protect the trunk from mice;
• reduce the likelihood of bark cracking due to severe frosts;
• protect from insects that can live in the bark during the winter until the warm weather arrives.

Apply whitewash on a dry, windless day. If it rains within 2-3 hours of applying the solution, repeat the process. You can prepare the whitewash yourself. To prepare, you will need:

• wood glue – 180 g;
• lime – 3 kg;
• water – 10 l;
• copper sulfate – 500 g.

Mix all ingredients to form a homogeneous liquid. The process is carried out at a temperature of at least 4°C. Apply the mixture evenly in a single layer to the trunk, including the skeletal branches.

How to protect apple trees from frost

Autumn care for young apple trees includes frost protection. Older, frost-hardy trees typically don't require insulation; they're accustomed to temperature fluctuations. Young apple trees have a hard time withstanding their first winters, so they need insulation to gradually adapt. The following insulation materials are used:

• any paper;
• fabric material (bags, tights);
• agrofibre, fiberglass, spundball;
• roofing cardboard;
• roofing felt;
• plastic bottles;
• pine branches;
• reed and sunflower stems.

Read alsoHow to Prune Plum Trees in Fall: A Beginner's Guide The primary purpose of fruit and berry plants is to bear fruit. Plum pruning is essential, as it is one of the most important factors directly affecting the harvest. Autumn pruning…

Roots can be protected by mulching with corn stalks, straw, or sawdust. This covering material not only protects against frost but also from rodents such as mice and hares. The trunk should be insulated approximately 1-1.3 meters above the ground, and the material should be removed in early spring.

Features of autumn care for columnar apple trees

Unlike other varieties, columnar trees are completely covered for the winter. Humus is added around the trunk, and a pyramid of wooden planks is assembled around the sapling. The structure is covered with covering material. Columnar apple trees require watering, spraying, and whitewashing in the fall, just like other varieties. This variety rarely requires pruning, as they do not develop lateral branches; only damaged areas are removed. Only one-year-old shoots can be pruned, leaving at least two buds.

How to care for an apple tree in the fall in the Moscow region

In the Moscow region, winters often see sharp temperature fluctuations, frequent thaws, and freezing rain. Therefore, apple trees can be severely damaged by sudden freezing. In addition to the apple tree care recommended in other regions, the following is also recommended:

• place supports under skeletal branches to protect them from breaking;
• insulate tree trunk circles;
• It is better not to prune in the fall; you can only remove branches infected with fungus.

In the Moscow region, autumn is short, and relatively warm weather doesn't last long, so care for young apple trees in the fall must be carried out promptly. Following apple tree care recommendations can reduce the risk of many diseases and insect pests in early spring. Protecting the tree bark with special coatings can prevent sunburn and frost cracks, resulting in a bountiful harvest.