3 Ways to Make Your Apple Tree Produce More Apples
Posted on: 22 December 2016
Whether you're planting a new apple tree in your garden or you already have one that's not been doing so well for a while, you'll want to do your best to keep the yield (number of good quality apples produced) high. A tree that produces a lot of apples will look great in your garden and provide you with a steady supply of home-grown fruit. Here are three ways to boost your apple tree yield so you can enjoy the gorgeous colour and crunchy goodness of the fruits.
Get Your Soil Tested
Planting your tree in healthy soil is just as important as planting it in an area where it can receive sunlight and water. Soil provides nutrients to a growing apple tree, which are essential for healthy growth and high yields. Likewise, poor soil can reduce the amount of apples your tree produces by introducing harmful chemicals into the plant. Generally, apple trees require a good mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Have your soil tested to find out its chemical makeup. If it contains pesticides, you may need to use a treatment to improve the quality of the soil or have it replaced with fresh ground to raise your yield. If it's too low in nutrients, adding the three essential minerals in the right quantities should bring you more delicious apples.
Have Your Tree Pruned
While you may assume that more tree equals more fruit, an overgrown apple tree will often produce a smaller yield. In order to keep your tree from becoming crowded with branches and growing less fruit, you'll need to have it pruned regularly. If you have no experience with pruning, it's important that you contact a tree services professional. Just as under-pruning causes problems, over-trimming can also reduce yield by encouraging the growth of 'watershoots', which are branches that don't produce fruit. An experienced tree pruner will know how and when to trim your tree to avoid this.
Don't Over Fertilise
Just as allowing your tree to become overgrown won't encourage apple growth, neither will over-fertilising. Too much fertiliser will cause the tree to focus on growing its wood rather than growing apples. When adding minerals like nitrogen to your soil, don't overdo it. Base your fertilisation levels on your soil test results. Remember that it's easier to add more than it is to take some away; start with the minimal amount of fertiliser and only add more if your tree isn't growing enough.
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