Soil & nutrition
Mulching, weeds and the orchard floor
Keeping moisture in and competition out.
Relevant stages: Pink Bud, Petal Fall, Fruit Let, Fruit Development I, Fruit Development II.
- De-weed tree basins and mow the orchard floor at the pink bud, fruit development I and II stages.
- Mulch tree basins to hold moisture and control weeds (petal fall and fruit let), especially in dry, hot weather. SKUAST-Kashmir advises a grass mulch layer about 4 to 6 inches thick around the tree canopy.
- Cut orchard grass at fruit let and later stages. Shorter grass lowers humidity in the orchard.
- During flowering, mow weeds so bees stay on the trees instead of the flowers on the ground.
- Do not let mulch touch the trunk.
General guidance. Always read product labels and consult an agronomist for problems specific to your orchard.
