Therefore, we recommend pruning in autumn to avoid the spread of pests and diseases. Although, it’s not necessary to prune at that time of the year if you only have a small number of fruit trees on your property. Most commercial production orchards will prune right after harvest in late summer to boost regrowth and ensure the best fruit production for the following season. Generally, cherry and apricot trees don’t fruit very well in the Waikato region because it isn’t cold enough compared to Hawkes Bay and Central Otago. If you prefer a more natural insecticide, you can use Neem Oil, which is chemical-free. To treat an infestation, you can buy various spray products to eliminate them, like Yates Nature’s Way Organic Citrus, Vegie and Ornamental Spray.

If you notice tiny white or yellow spots on your leaves, silky webs woven around the tree leaves or a yellow appearance in certain parts of the tree, you will have spider mites. They bear fruit on the same lateral spur branches from the main leading stem for many years, so it’s essential to avoid pruning these off because you won’t get any crop.Ī common pest found on apple trees is spider mites. Pruning apple trees is essential to shape them to the desired form for the first couple of years. The best way to stop the spread of this disease is to spray with a copper fungal product before and after the leaves come out. For example, peaches are prone to leaf curl, a fungal disease that makes the leaf curl. Unfortunately, apple and peach trees have the most pests and diseases. We recommend pruning apple and pear trees every winter after the leaf drop before the buds appear to ensure good fruit crops for the following season.

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