Key Points
Protecting your peach tree in winter ensures healthy growth and a strong fruit harvest when the warm weather returns.Wrap trunks and crowns with breathable materials, apply thick mulch, and water deeply before the ground freezes.Prevent pests and disease by applying copper-based treatments and cleaning up fallen fruit.
Dreaming of fresh peach cobbler? You’ll need to protect your peach tree during winter to make those fantasies a reality. However, colder temperatures can be challenging for fruit trees, and the change in seasons can even invite harmful pests.
Fortunately, there are many ways to to keep your trees safe from these seasonal pitfalls. Here, we spoke to experts about how to protect your peach tree so it’s in prime condition and ready to produce fruit again when the warm weather rolls around.
Protect the Trunk and Crown
“The main goal is to protect the above-ground part of the plant from sudden temperature changes, cold winds, and hares,” says Maksim Kazakou, resident botany expert at Plantum. The best method will depend on the size of your tree and the climate in your region. “You can build shelters, use non-woven covering, cardboard, sawdust, and other materials,” he adds.
The crown may also need covering. Gently tie the branches together with rope and wrap them in several layers of non-woven fabric, or specially-made covers.
Young trees require stronger protection. “To reduce the amount of insulating material needed, tie young branches into a bundle and bend the tree toward the ground, securing it to a stake,” Kazakou advises. “Do this after leaf fall—but before the frost—while the branches are still flexible. Once temperatures drop below freezing, they’ll become brittle.”
Never use plastic film or airtight covers on peach trees. Burlap, however, is a great material. “Be sure to unwrap the tree when it’s not needed—long exposure to moisture can be damaging overall,” says Ward Dilmore, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus Landscaping.
Apply Mulch
Before winter, loosen the soil around the trunk of your peach tree and apply mulch to protect its root system.
“When choosing insulation, consider your climate: if winter thaws and rains are common, then avoid sawdust, or build a sturdy shelter with a reliable roof,” says Kazakou. “If you have a steady snow cover in winter, the snow itself can serve as insulation. You can also use peat, dry leaves from non-fruiting trees, wood chips, shredded branches, straw, and similar materials.”
Apply 12 to 16 inches of dry mulch after deep watering at the end of leaf fall. It’s best to fully insulate and mulch young trees.
Water Deeply
Make sure your peach tree has the right amount of moisture before freezing weather sets in. This will give it a great head start for spring.
“The amount of water depends on the age of the tree, the soil composition, and its condition,” says Kazakou. “Water the soil gradually so it doesn’t pool on the surface.”
Be careful with deep watering, as excessive moisture can harm the root system. “If the soil is already moist enough, skip this step,” he says. “Also, avoid deep watering on heavy clay soils.”
Protect Against Pests and Diseases
One of the most common peach tree diseases is leaf curl. This infection leads to premature leaf loss, which negatively affects wood ripening as well as the plant’s ability to survive winter.
To combat this, apply a three percent Bordeaux mixture or another copper-based solution after your peach finishes shedding leaves. “This treatment is especially important for controlling peach leaf curl since this pathogen overwinters on the bark,” Kazakou says. “In spring, before the bud break, repeat the same treatment.”
You also want to protect your tree against brown rot, also known as moniliosis. “Remove all fallen fruit on time, don’t leave fruit mummies hanging on branches, and thin out fruits when necessary,” he adds.
Another threat to your peach trees is wild hares, which can strip the bark from trunks in winter and cause severe—and sometimes irreparable—damage.
“To insulate the trunk, wrap it in several layers of non-woven material, secure it with twine or wire, and then cover it with thick corrugated cardboard,” Kazakou says. “Secure the cardboard with wire, as well.”
Don’t wrap the trunk too tightly—the materials should stay in place, but remain a bit loose. In regions with mild winters, consider using only cardboard.
Prune Later On
Pruning should be done in late winter, says Dilmore.
“You want to prevent your peach tree from being exposed to any additional disease and not accidentally stimulate new growth at this time,” he warns. “Fertilizing should also follow this schedule and not be applied until springtime.”
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