How to avoid losing tree blossom
Ruth suggests ways of protecting early blossom from cold weather
SPRING blossom is a lovely sight, but it is extremely vulnerable to spiteful spring gales and frosts. This is especially true for nectarine and peach trees, which are the first to come into flower.
If you lose your blossom you will have a reduced crop come autumn – or no fruit at all in extreme cases – so protect trees sooner rather than later.
Cold air is heavier than warm air so it sinks and flows downwards, collecting and forming a ‘frost pocket’ against any barrier (such as a fence or hedge) at its lowest point. Alleviate this risk by creating a gap at the base of the blockage or, with a hedge, removing lower branches to improve air flow.
If you have yet to plant fruit trees and shrubs, reduce the risk of frosts and wind burn by positioning them in a sunny, sheltered spot such as against a south-facing wall. If this isn’t an option, grow them in containers that can be moved undercover during cold snaps.
Small trees and shrubs can be protected by throwing several layers of fleece over the branches, or encasing them in drawstring fleece bags. Do the same for trees grown espalier-fashion Consider frost-tolerant and late-flowering varieties for exposed gardens. Try ‘Worcester Pearmain’ apple, ‘Onward’ pear, ‘Morello’ cherry or ‘Czar’ plum. against a wall. Cloches are useful for lowgrowing crops such as strawberries.
Remove any protective coverings as soon as the next morning warms up. This avoids trapping condensation that can attract mould and cause foliage and flowers to start to rot.
You can also use the heat released by soil underneath trees and shrubs by keeping the grass short and only mulching soil after flowering.
There are few pollinators around when early-blossoming trees are flowering, so use a small, soft paintbrush to transfer the pollen from bloom to bloom and start this year’s fruits. Kinnerley, nr Oswestry, Shropshire
SY10 8DH. 01691 682135, hallfarmnursery.co.uk
9: Erythronium Festival: Inverewe, Poolewe, Wester Ross IV22 2LG
01445 781229 nts.org.uk
10-11: Daffodil Show: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23
6QB. 0845 260 9000, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/wisley
11: Spring Perennials: Hardy’s Cottage garden, Priory Lane Nursery, Freefolk Priors, Whitchurch, Hants, RG28 7FA.
01256 896533, hardysplants.co.uk
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