Failure to adhere to advice could cost hundreds of pounds to sort issues
Householders with fruit trees in their gardens have been warned about one essential job to avoid having to shell out money this September(Image: Getty Images)
Millions of householders could be facing unwelcome guests in their gardens and ruined lawns, simply by neglecting one simple task. As September rolls around, those with fruit trees in the garden have been warned there is one timely job they should be doing to avoid having to pay out.
According to an expert from MyBuilder.com, failing to pick up fallen fruits from trees this late summer and early autumn can lead to a myriad of garden-related issues, potentially costing hundreds of pounds.
Fruit trees are a staple addition in millions of gardens, but leaving fallen fruit can cause a multitude of problems for Brits across the country. From attracting pests to ruining our grass, there are a variety of ways in which allowing fruit to rot in your garden is a problem.
While some of these issues – such as an unpleasant smell – are just annoying, others could actually cause serious issues that could need professional intervention.
These issues can be easily avoided by swift collection of fruits, and suitable removal. Ideally, fallen fruits should be picked up before the rotting process begins. In hot weather, fallen fruit can begin to rot within hours, attracting wasps and other pests.
Once this process is further down the line (within 48 to 72 hours) seeds from the fruit can be spread into other areas of your garden, leading to new unwanted seedlings growing.
And if you have a large tree or yield, the fallen fruit can also kill off the grass underneath it within a few days, leading to patchy brown areas.
Expert gardener James Lewis from MyBuilder.com said it’s essential to collect and remove fallen fruit as swiftly as possible.
He said: “Gardens can be a lot of work in summer when plants and lawns are growing fast and you’re watering often. So it’s understandable that people may neglect to collect fallen fruit when it seems like an unnecessary job.
“However, it’s actually vital to remove rotting fruits. They can attract not only wasps and hornets, but also rats. This could lead to having pest control in – not a cheap job. It can also lead to plants self-seeding, and saplings can spring up all over your lawn.
“So don’t neglect this job – pick up daily if you can and dispose of your fruit if you can’t make use of it.”
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Problems caused by leaving fruits to rotAttracting pests
Wasps, bees, and insects all love fresh and newly rotting fruit. This may affect your ability to enjoy your garden, and could lead to stings or bites. However, the bigger problem is when rotting fruit attracts vermin such as rats.
Rats are attracted to the smell of the fruit, and it can provide a good food source for them. A rat infestation can be distressing and also extremely costly, with prices for pest removal starting at approximately £100 – and often can be much more should they prove tricky to eradicate.
Fallen fruit can attract pests like rats (Image: Getty )Diseases
Unfortunately, fallen fruit is a breeding ground for many bacteria and fungi if the fruit is left to rot on the lawn. This is problematic, because if left there it could spread to the tree itself, as well as neighbouring healthy plants.
If your tree becomes diseased and needs removal, the costs can be more than £200. Fighting to save diseased trees can also be extremely costly, and methods are often ineffective.
Weed growth
Weeds can commonly grow around fruit trees if fallen fruit is not removed. This is because if the fruit is left to rot, the soil receives rich organic matter which provides perfect growing conditions for weeds.
While removing weeds can be done yourself, it tends to become an ongoing job once they are established in an area. The cost of weedkiller should be taken into account, or the time of your gardener (if you have one).
Ruin your lawn
Fruit that has fallen onto the lawn will impact the grass in several ways, including by blocking the sunlight and air from reaching the grass, as well as the weight of the fruit flattening the blade.
This will damage or even kill your grass if the fruit is not removed. In just one day the grass can begin to yellow; in two days it can enter a dormant state, and after just two weeks of fallen fruit, it can begin to die.
Fallen fruit can leave you with patchy, yellow grass in a matter of days(Image: Getty )
The cost of reviving a lawn can be significant, with lawn treatments being expensive and sometimes ineffective. In the worst case scenario, re-turfing may be necessary.
Plant spread for certain trees
While fruit may be a food source for us, to a tree, its fruits are a way of dispersing its seeds. For this reason, leaving fruit on your lawn can spread the seeds rapidly, until your whole garden is full of fruit tree saplings.
Species such as apple trees can spread rapidly through their fruit, and if that’s not your aim, you’re best to remove your fruit before you have a forest of saplings in your lawn.
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