What to Do With Fruit Trees in April – 6 Essential Tasks for Your Biggest, Tastiest Harvest Yet

April is a pivotal month in the garden as temperatures warm and plants begin to grow. You might call it the month in which spring has really sprung. This month is an especially important one for your fruit trees, and you’ll have to do some maintenance now for healthy growth and generous harvests later in the growing season.

Growing fruit trees is always exciting, since you witness progress month by month, and often week by week. The trees awaken from their winter rest, bud out, flower and leaf, then form fruit that develop over the season. Proper fruit tree care in April is the key to it all, and it can feel overwhelming.

That’s why having a shortlist is helpful. It’s always easier to complete proper maintenance tasks when you are clear about what needs to be done when. Here’s the list of six critical fruit tree maintenance tasks to get you through April.

1. Inspect Each Tree’s Soil

It’s easy to think of soil as a given, something that is always in place that you don’t have to worry about. But that is far from the truth. Good, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil doesn’t happen without regular maintenance, and the more effort you put into building good soil, the better your fruit trees will perform.

April is the moment to begin. Check the soil around the base of each fruit tree. Winter weather can compact the soil, reducing drainage and limiting the water and nutrients that get to the tree’s roots. Loosen up the top layer of soil and work organic compost into the mix. If necessary, aerate the area by poking holes into the soil that allow water and air to pass. You can do this with a lawn aerator spike, like this Walensee tool from Amazon.

It’s a good idea to test your soil at this time to figure out exactly what nutrients and micronutrients are needed. This allows you to provide the appropriate fertilizer. MySoil's Soil Test Kit provides a comprehensive soil pH and nutrient analysis.

2. Feed Those Hungry Roots

With the soil test results in hand, select the appropriate fertilizer. Generally, a balanced, granular fertilizer for fruit trees will be sufficient, like this Jobe’s Organics Granular Garden Fertilizer for Fruit and Citrus Plants and Trees. Fertilizing in April gives the tree a good start for the entire fruiting season.

Always water the soil before applying fertilizer around the root zone. Never allow the product to touch the trunk. Water again once the fertilizer is in place to move those nutrients into the soil.

3. Ensure Your Trees Get Enough Water

Everyone knows that fruit trees need water to survive and thrive, yet thoughtless irrigation can cause problems. Remember that while a fruit tree will waste away without enough water, overwatering is even more of a problem. Give your fruit trees too much water, and their leaves will yellow, wilt, and fall, and the roots may actually rot.

Poor drainage is often the cause of overwatering, so do your soil check first. Then start a watering program for the trees. They do best with consistently moist soil, and deep watering is the key. This means watering less often but for a longer time so that water passes down at least a foot (30cm) into the soil. This may require a hose drip for 20 minutes, like this Rainpoint Soaker Hose.

Of course, a fruit tree’s water needs in April depend in large part on the weather. If your spring is rainy, there may be no need to water at all. Try sticking a finger into the soil as far as you can. If it is dry, it’s irrigation time.

If you're finding it difficult to gauge soil moisture, then it's worth picking up a moisture meter, like this Raintrip 4-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter.

4. Mulch Now

Nothing makes me feel more like I am caring for my fruit trees than applying mulch to their soil. It’s like tucking a baby into bed. Mulching holds in the moisture, keeps away the weeds, and regulates soil temperature, cooling the ground in hot weather and warming it up in cold weather.

Layer a few inches of organic mulch around the base of the fruit tree in a donut shape, never allowing it to touch the trunk. What mulch to use? I like organic compost, but you can use wood chips, dried chopped leaves, shredded bark, or coconut husks, like this Back to the Roots Organic Expanding Mulch.

5. Keep Pests and Diseases at Bay

April brings out garden pests and fruit tree diseases that are ready, willing, and able to attack your trees. You’ll want to keep a close eye on the trees with weekly inspections and act early to deal with any problems. Be sure to inspect both sides of leaves for bugs and look along the base for sawdust or cankers. If the weather is damp, look for signs of fungal diseases as well.

As a preventative measure, clean up debris around the base of the tree, including fallen leaves and fruit. This is where many pests hide.

If you do spot an infection or infestation, select an appropriate organic fungicide or insecticide. Products like lime sulfur or fixed copper can prevent fungal infections. Neem or horticultural oil spray is a good place to start when insects are present. Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil is a highly rated option.

6. Prune Your Fruit Trees

You knew we’d get here – and here we are. There is no option that allows you to avoid pruning your fruit trees in spring to improve airflow and branch structure. Many gardeners worry about this task, since cutting off parts of a tree seems so definitive, and pruning directions can seem complex. Here’s an easy way to prune in April.

Start with basic pruning – learn the “three Ds” – and act before the tree leafs out. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches. If you need to take off entire branches, make the cut just outside the branch collar. Make other branch cuts at 45-degree angles, just above a bud. If you need to upgrade your shears, then Fiskars' Bypass pruning shears are highly rated and make a clean cut.

Remember that your job in April is to thin out branch growth to let sun and air penetrate the tree canopy. Remove crossing branches and work toward creating an open structure. This is very important for apple and pear trees that do best with a goblet-like shape.

April Fruit Tree Essentials

This proactive approach in April sets the foundation for an abundant harvest. By dedicating time now to proper soil health, strategic watering, and preventative care against pests and diseases, you are ensuring your trees can focus their energy on producing high-quality fruit. You’re not just performing maintenance; you’re investing in the sweet, generous yield that awaits you in the summer and fall.

But the work doesn’t stop once April ends. Continue to monitor your trees closely as the growing season progresses. May will bring new challenges and opportunities, from thinning developing fruit to adjusting your watering schedule during drier spells. The key is consistent, attentive care.