What Your Apple Trees Need in June – 6 Critical Care Tasks You Don't Want to Skip or You'll Risk Your Harvest
June is one of the most important months during the apple-growing season. Taking care of pests, diseases, and proper watering will set you up for a tasty fall.
June is a critical time for apple trees, as they shift from spring blossoms to fruit development. The trees are putting a lot of energy into growing fruits, but also into healthy foliage and strong roots. A few simple care tasks improve overall tree health and fruit size and quality while also minimizing the risk of typical problems.
Growing apple trees successfully depends on understanding growth timelines, ideal growing conditions, and potential problems. In June, most apple trees are in the early fruit development stage. Pollination has led to the production of small apples that will grow in size over the course of the summer.
During this crucial growth period, you might encounter a few issues, like pests, fungal infections, or overburdened branches. A fruit tree spray from Amazon can help manage pests and diseases. You might also see some fruit drop, which is normal. Apple trees drop some fruits early to prevent branches from getting too heavy. Some loss now is normal.
By following these essential June chores for apple trees, you can maximize your harvest and enjoy healthy trees for years to come.
1. Hand Thin the Fruits
June fruit drop is normal, but you can also aid this natural process by hand thinning some of the apples. By selectively removing some of the developing fruits now, you’ll get bigger, better-quality apples later in the season.
Apple trees produce more fruit than they can actually bring to healthy maturity. If some do not drop, or if you don’t remove them, the crowded apples won’t develop to full size and might have less flavor. Also, the overburdened branches can break under the weight of too much fruit.
To hand thin your apple tree, start by removing any fruits that look damaged, misshapen, or infested with insects. Then, thin out fruit with the goal of leaving one apple every six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) along a branch.
2. Water During Heat and Drought
The weather in June can be unpredictable in many places. If you experience dry, hot periods, you’ll need to water your apple tree to keep it healthy and happy. Inconsistent moisture is a typical reason apple trees don’t produce well in a given season.
Ensure your apple trees get about an inch (2.5 cm) of water per week. If it isn’t raining, water deeply at the root zone about once a week. Water more frequently during very hot, dry weather and for younger trees.
3. Look for Signs of Pests or Disease
Apple tree pests and diseases can quickly ruin an apple harvest, so it’s best to look for signs early and often. The sooner you catch and manage these issues, the more likely you are to still get a good number of quality apples later.
Codling moths are the proverbial worm in the apple. Look for holes in the fruit. Apple maggots leave little dimples on the surface of fruits where they lay eggs. Spider mites leave behind silk webbing and cause leaves to look scorched. Aphids leave sticky honeydew behind, attracting ants and causing leaves to curl. Woolly aphids also leave behind a cottony material.
Common diseases on apple trees include apple scab and powdery mildew. Scab causes dark green spots on leaves and fruit. Mildew looks like a white or gray powder on leaves and new shoots. You can manage or prevent diseases like these by trimming your trees for airflow and avoiding watering from above. Remove infected growth or use a recommended fungicide, like Captain Jack's Fruit Tree Spray from Amazon, as needed.
4. Light Summer Pruning
Your apple tree needs to direct its energy into fruit development right now, not new growth. June is a good time to do some light pruning to trim back aggressive new shoots that drain energy. This trimming will also open up the canopy to improve airflow and sunlight penetration.
Use sharp, clean shears to trim off water sprouts and suckers. Water sprouts are the new shoots that grow out of main branches on the tree. Suckers are similar shoots that grow from the base of the tree.
5. Fertilize if Needed
Healthy, older trees probably don’t need feeding right now. On the other hand, younger trees can benefit from some June feeding. Trees of any age showing signs of nutrient deficiency, like pale leaves or minimal growth, can also use a light feeding now.
If you feel like your tree could use some extra nutrients, use a balanced product. Avoid products higher in nitrogen, which will encourage leaf growth at the expense of fruit. If you’re not sure your tree needs feeding, do a soil test or check in with your local extension office for guidance.
6. Support Heavy Branches
Even with fruit thinning, some branches can become very heavy as the apples develop. They can crack or even break all the way through. If you see branches that look too weak to hold up their load of fruit, you can use a sturdy stick or post under it to prop it up. You can also use soft ties to anchor it to the trunk or a sturdier branch. Keep monitoring these questionable branches throughout the season.
June is one of the most important months in the apple-growing season. By thinning fruit, watering and feeding as needed, and staying on top of issues like pests and diseases, you can enjoy bigger, better apples and healthier trees both this season and many more.
