Anyone with fruit trees in gardens urged to do 'last-chance' job now for a 'lovely crop'

During the summer months, there is nothing better than picking fresh fruit from trees in your garden . Apple, pear, plum and cherry trees produce fruit in the summer months and are perfect for making pies and crumbles. However, to ensure your fruit trees produce the best crop during the summer, they require some careful care in the winter.

Peter Mortin, a gardening expert at Crane Garden Buildings, said fruit trees need to be washed this month to control pests and diseases. He explained: "You should be looking at spraying your fruit trees with an organic winter tree wash. "This should be done before any leaves or blossom buds show, so February is the last chance to get this done.



"This will help to kill any bugs, their eggs, and fungus spores, along with other ‘nasties’ like peach leaf curl spores. Essentially, this tree wash ensures you produce a lovely crop in the summer." Winter washing trees can be done in January and February, and with spring just around the corner, it is vital that gardeners complete the task before the beginning of March.

To winter wash your trees, spray them with plant oils diluted in water. Winter tree wash solutions can be bought in most garden centres or online. Giving your fruit trees a winter wash can help control aphid populations and wasps.

Apples Pears Cherries Plums Grapevines Blackberries Blackcurrants Greengages Winter washing needs to be done on a dry, still day. Measure out the concentrate and dilute it with water according to the packet instructions before pouring it in a sprayer. Next, shake the solution well to combine it.

Remove any excess solution from the outside of the sprayer. Spray the tree all over, making sure any crevices and branch joints are covered..