Early Care Ensures Fruitful Trees
February 2, 2004
Ed Perry, Farm Advisor
University of California, Cooperative Extension
When planting a new fruit tree in your garden, remember the importance of developing the tree for the long run. While you may plant and harvest vegetable crops in a single season, fruit trees and grapevines remain in your garden for many years. You need to keep this in mind while you are pruning and caring for your young trees.
During the first two to four years after planting a new fruit tree, fruit production is usually light. However, this is the time when the basic framework of the tree is being developed and when major root growth takes place. Actually, the first few years that the tree is in the ground is the most important for root development. Stress caused by diseases, nematodes, weed competition or insufficient water can slow or stop root development, and hence top development. If your tree’s growth is stunted from the beginning, it’s unlikely that it will grow satisfactorily in later years. After the first few years - once the roots are well developed - young trees become more tolerant to many of these stresses.
The first few years are critical ones for developing your tree’s framework for fruit production. Deciduous fruit and nut trees must be properly trained for structural strength while developing maximum fruiting area. Whether you’re developing an open center, central leader or “fruit bush” system, training to develop the tree’s framework should begin early in the life of the tree. Remember that these systems are used for deciduous, not evergreen fruit trees. Citrus and avocado trees are allowed to grow more naturally in most cases, and do not require extensive pruning.
Pests such as twig boring insects that cause distortion of early limb growth are most serious during these early years, because their damage affects the ultimate shape of the tree. Therefore, observe your young trees closely and be ready to control pests when they reach injury levels.
Young trees are also most susceptible to certain diseases such as bacterial canker or verticillium wilt. If your trees reach eight or nine years of age without being badly injured by these diseases, chances are good that they will survive future attacks.
Stunting of growth due to weed competition can be very serious during the first two or three years of fruit tree development. Vertebrate pests such as gophers or mice can also do serious damage to newly planted trees because the trunks and roots of young trees are more susceptible to their feeding. You need to take quick action to control weeds and rodents around young trees. Fruit trees planted in lawns will also be stunted, as developing tree roots are inhibited by many grass species.
The most common and serious cause of poor tree development is improper watering practices. Too much or too little water will prevent the vigorous growth of young fruit trees, and make them more susceptible to pest, disease and sunburn problems as well. More than any other cultural practice, irrigation will affect the growth, development, and long term health and productivity of your fruit trees. Be sure you have a good plan for watering your newly planted tree before you plant. Fruit trees and landscape plants like lawn, bedding plants and shrubs have different water requirements, so need to be watered differently and separately.