Orchard care, step by step
Interactive lesson: the tree circle, mulch, compost and manure, water in a drought, fruit thinning and winter care, all done naturally and in moderation.
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The whole lesson as text
1. The circle around the tree
A young tree feeds from below, and grass is its biggest competitor for water and nitrogen.
- A grass-free circle — For the first 3–5 years, keep a 1–2 m (3–6 ft) circle around the tree free of grass. Grass right up to the trunk means a tree that sulks.
- Mulch 5–10 cm — Straw, hay, grass clippings, leaves or wood chip. Lay it on moist soil, in spring once the soil has warmed or in autumn.
- Not against the trunk — Keep mulch 10 cm away from the trunk. Damp mulch against the bark causes rot and hides voles.
- Grass from the alleys — Don't cart away the grass you mow; rake it into the circles. Leave an unmown flower strip too, for ladybirds, lacewings and parasitic wasps.
Why: A young fruit tree in a grassed-over circle grows roughly half as fast as one in a clean, mulched circle. An old tree with deep roots is bothered less by grass.
- Cardboard, then mulch, smothers even strong grass, but in the first year water well underneath.
- Around young trees, plant nothing in the circle for the first three years: even useful plants drink water.
2. What the tree shows
A cropping tree on good soil needs moderate feeding, and too much does harm.
- Weak growth — Pale, small leaves and growth under 10 cm: little nitrogen, grass up to the trunk or drought. Compost or manure, mulch and water help.
- Lush shoots — Shoots over 60 cm, dark leaves and little fruit mean too much nitrogen. No manure for 1–2 years, and summer pruning.
- Brown leaf edges — Brown, dry edges on older leaves: little potassium, or drought. Wood ash in moderation, compost and mulch.
- Soil test — Before you add anything, have the soil tested every 4–5 years and check the water.
Why: A fruit tree is not a vegetable: it returns much of its nutrients itself through fallen leaves, and its roots reach far and deep. Growth and leaves tell you whether the tree needs feeding.
- Symptoms can have other causes too: drought, waterlogging, root disease.
- Young leaves yellow, veins green: chlorosis, usually on chalky soil. Don't lime there.
3. Compost, manure, wood ash · Locked
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4. Water in a drought · Locked
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5. Thinning fruit · Locked
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6. Animals and winter · Locked
Buy the Orchard care module and you get the PDF to download and print, plus lifetime access to this interactive lesson: all 6 chapters, 24 steps.