Prune – no custard!

Because the weather was so dry in December we took the opportunity to mechanically prune all of the orchards. In a normal year, the damage that the machinery would cause to the ground would make you think twice about doing this but these were ideal conditions. We have followed this up with hand pruning at the end of January – bringing the trees across the entire farm into the best overall shape that they have been for years.

It’s all about getting a good ratio between above ground and below. The objective is to keep the area of growth above ground in proportion with the root system. This ensures that the tree can feed itself and its fruit effectively and also makes it more resistant to dry spells or inclement weather. Shaping each tree ensures that we achieve good air flow and access to sunlight which helps to keep the tree disease free and aids photosynthesis.