Overview
This guide walks you through the key spring stages of fruit tree care—dormant bud swell, bud break, tight cluster, and full blossom—with an emphasis on using pollinator friendly organic Lost Coast Plant Therapy (LCPT). The guide covers how to prepare, protect, and nourish your trees, while leveraging LCPT’s food-grade organic sprays to prevent disease and pest pressure before it arises.
Stage 1: Dormant to Bud Swell (Late Winter – Early Spring)
Before buds begin to swell, focus on cleaning and structural pruning to set the stage for healthy growth.
- Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches to improve air circulation and light penetration.
- Strip away flaking bark and any old fruit mummies hiding overwintering pests.
- Sanitize tools between cuts using methylated spirits to avoid disease transmission.
- As soon as buds start to swell, apply LCPT spray evenly over all branches and trunk. LCPT’s organic formulation helps suppress overwintering aphids, mites, and scale insects before they become active.
Stage 2: Bud Break to Green Bud
Once green tips appear, maintain vigilance and reinforce your preventive spray program.
- Walk around each tree weekly to scout for early signs of pests (aphids, scale, mites) or fungal spots.
- Mulch the root zone with well-rotted compost or straw to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature.
- Apply LCPT every two weeks as a foliar spray, ensuring underside of leaves are coated. This keeps populations in check without harming beneficial insects.
- Begin light irrigation if spring rains are scarce, targeting deep, infrequent soakings to encourage robust root growth.
Stage 3: Tight Cluster to Full Blossom
As flower clusters form and open, balance pest control with pollinator safety.
- Continue LCPT applications at the tight cluster stage and repeat at first bloom; its food-grade ingredients control sooty mold and citrus black spot while remaining bee-friendly once dry.
- Use mesh netting over vulnerable low branches if bird pecking on buds is an issue—choose a mesh size that still allows bees through.
- Maintain even soil moisture; avoid overhead watering during peak bloom to reduce the risk of fungal infections.
Stage 4: Supporting Pollination
Maximize fruit set by fostering a pollinator-rich environment.
- Plant or intersperse pollinator-attracting herbs and flowers (borage, lavender, rosemary) near your fruit trees.
- Provide shallow water sources (pebbles in a dish) for bees to drink safely.
- Avoid spraying during peak bee activity (mid-day) and cease LCPT applications when 70% of petals have dropped.
- If you have a greenhouse or row cover, remove it during bloom to allow insect access.
Nutrient and Soil Management
Even nutrient supply feeds blossoms and sets the stage for healthy fruit.
- Conduct a soil test late in bloom to check pH and nutrient levels.
- Apply a balanced granular fruit tree fertilizer or a high-potash feed (e.g., sulphate of potash) just as petals start to fall to boost next season’s flower development.
- Top-dress with compost or well-aged manure in late spring to feed soil biology.
- Mulch annually in spring and autumn to retain moisture and suppress weeds.