Apricot tree: care, calendar, diseases
Everything to care for a home apricot tree: when to prune, graft, spot diseases, and ensure pollination.
apricot tree care calendar
| Period | Task |
|---|---|
| February | Prepare protection against frost during bloom |
| April | Watch the bloom and any damage |
| July | Prune lightly after harvest, in dry weather |
apricot tree pollination
The apricot tree is generally self-fertile: a single tree is enough to bear fruit. Learn more about pollination.
Pruning and grafting the apricot tree
Prune
- Prefer limited work during dry periods.
- Remove dead wood and open up the crown without making very large wounds.
- Avoid hard pruning before a cold or rainy spell.
Graft
- Choose a rootstock compatible with the soil and the variety.
- Graft with healthy, labelled material.
- Watch the graft point and any suckers closely.
The apricot tree is sensitive to wounds and dieback: limit cuts and work in dry weather.
apricot tree diseases and pests
Brown rot possibleThe browning and the pads on the fruit are consistent with a rot that spreads mainly throu…Aphids likelySmall insects, curled leaves and sticky honeydew point to an aphid attack.…Shot hole disease (coryneum)Small purple spots that fall out: leaves look riddled with shot. Common on cherry, plum, a…Chlorosis (deficiency, often iron)Leaves yellow between veins that stay green, mainly on young shoots: not a contagious dise…Scale insectsSmall fixed bumps on the bark or stems, sticky honeydew and a black deposit (sooty mould):…Collar rot (Phytophthora)A dark ooze at the base of the trunk and general decline: a soil fungus attacks the collar…Water stress (lack of water)Dry leaf edges, soft foliage in the heat and early leaf drop: the tree is short of water, …Bacterial canker (stone fruit)Sunken bark patches oozing gum, dying buds and dieback: a bacterium common on cherry, apri…
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