April Healthy Harvest Habits

Grow good habits in your yard this spring by giving your trees the nutrients they need for a healthy season. In April, your fruit tree is gearing up for summer harvest action, and is looking to start some serious spring growth! Help your tree by adding nutrients to the soil around trunk. 

Apply fresh mulch, follow this with a deep drink, and a visual inspection of your tree’s health. Take early action if you notice pests and disease this month, as interrupting their lifecycles are the keys to healthy harvest success. 

3 Healthy Harvest Habits to cultivate in April:

A person in a garden planting a young tree under bright sunlight, showcasing gardening efforts and nature's growth.

1. Mulching & Watering

Apply a donut-shaped ring of mulch around base of tree. Keep the mulch away from touching the tree trunk.

Begin watering regularly when the top 5cms of soil are dry:

  1. Fill a bucket (5 gallon/18L) with water.
  2. Apply half of the water slowly and allow to absorb before repeating

2. Pest & Disease Monitoring

Inspect your tree for fire blight, scab, powdery mildew, scale and mites in the early Spring.

Take a look at Crop IPM for pest and disease information as well as growing information by plant; not just for fruit trees, but all Ontario crop plants.

Close-up of hands in gloves planting a young tree sapling in fresh soil outdoors.

3. Planting Trees & Shrubs

Consider planting a new fruit tree for yourself and for future generations!

  • Check out TreeMobile for climate-appropriate fruit trees and plants at a low cost.

Support native pollinators with a flowering/fruiting shrub.

  • LEAF makes it easy to plant native species that enhance biodiversity, brighten up your space and support native wildlife and pollinators.

Finally, take a look at the NFFTT resources on Young Fruit Tree Care!

Looking for in depth information on how to care for fruit trees and grow healthier fruit from a trusted, NFFTT recommended source? 

Tune in to the Orchard People podcast! Join live and submit your questions to an expert guest, or catch the show later on your favorite platform. 

To keep learning, join home growers, arborists and small scale orchardists from across North America and around the world in 5-star-rated organic fruit tree care education with Orchard People’s interactive, instant access courses. 
Find courses like: Certificate in Fruit Tree Care; Fruit Tree Pruning Masterclass; Managing Fruit Tree Pests & Disease; Soil Essentials for Fruit Trees; and so many more!

Further Reading

Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

By clicking confirm/subscribe, you consent to receiving commercial electronic messages from MakeWay – Not Far From The Tree, and any partners, sponsors or other related businesses.