The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 16 Autumn 2016 Low res | Page 29

Fruit tree care

Fruit tree care in autumn

by Dr C Nyakanda

This autumn, we focus on newly-sown fruit trees and how to spruce up mature trees.
The welcome rains we have had recently in parts of the
country have created an inviting and wet environment to
plant a fruit tree. I am often asked, when is the most ideal
time to plant fruit trees? The answer is, any time of year for all
ball-rooted trees; these are the trees that are sold in plastic
pots or vases.

Planting out
There are pros and cons to planting new fruit trees during all
the seasons. Autumn plantings are generally shallow rooted,
and you will need to be more alert to the risk of drying out.
Gradually, such rooting becomes deeply anchored as the
roots pursue receding soil moisture.
When planting out, the common practice is to completely
remove the black sleeve; where termite problems exist, cut off
just the bottom of the sleeve, leaving the sides in tact and then
plant. Foraging termites are discouraged when they hit the
plastic barrier, and such simple protection may save the young
tree as it matures. Mature trees rarely succumb to termite attack.
The planting holes do not have to be too big; a hole that
measures 60cm in length, width and depth suffices; however,
granadilla and grape holes should be 100cm deep.

Fertilising young trees

In most cases, 500g of Compound ‘S’ or seedbed fertiliser, which
is equal to a brimful standard jam bottle, suffices at planting.
Thoroughly mix this fertiliser with the topsoil for backfilling.
Avoid fertilising avocado or litchi trees in their first season
as the roots are too sensitive; critical thresholds are so close
that it’s easy to kill them with small quantities of organic or
artificial fertilisers.

Watering

The extended dry spells have been unusually long this
season, but your fruit tree may still experience water stress
even in the best of summer seasons, especially if it has been
in the ground for less than one year.

Weeding

Keep the area below the tree canopy weed-free to at least
30 cm beyond the drip line. Preferably, pull weeds out instead
of using implements in order to avoid wounding the roots and
providing an entry for disease. Herbicides may also be used to
clear up weeds; my best recommendation for this is Roundup
(active ingredient: glyphosate).

Sprucing up mature trees

At the end of summer, your fruit tree may look all worn out. Here
are two tips to help keep your tree stand look spick and span:
1. Regular pruning
Do this after all fruit harvesting has been completed so that
you minimise loss of yield. This is when you may be able
to distinguish new, old, dead or diseased branches. Avoid
pruning during wet spells to avoid disease spread. For the
same reason, disinfect tools by dipping in methylated spirits or
Jik (sodium hypochlorite H