Uploaded April 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Prevention is better than cure-something doctors and fruit growers agree on. You are what you eat, early years, environment and upbringing are vital for both people and fruit trees.
The first step in protection of your fruit crop against pests is to choose a suitable soil and microclimate. High rainfall, high altitude, frost and poor thin or badly drained (waterlogged) soils will be against you from the start. You may be able to ameliorate such conditions to some extent if you are stuck with them, but they will never be ideal.
Most soils can be improved to some extent, windbreaks can help in exposed areas, ridging can help with drainage, but there is no point attempting the impossible. We love the hill country of Wales but you simply cannot grow apples there any more than you can in a dry desert, a stony heath or a sodden bog.
Poor growing conditions will mean poor trees with weak resistance to pests and diseases. Might as well face up to it.
Prevention is better than cure-something doctors and fruit growers agree on. You are what you eat, early years, environment and upbringing are vital for both people and fruit trees.
The first step in protection of your fruit crop against pests is to choose a suitable soil and microclimate. High rainfall, high altitude, frost and poor thin or badly drained (waterlogged) soils will be against you from the start. You may be able to ameliorate such conditions to some extent if you are stuck with them, but they will never be ideal.
Most soils can be improved to some extent, windbreaks can help in exposed areas, ridging can help with drainage, but there is no point attempting the impossible. We love the hill country of Wales but you simply cannot grow apples there any more than you can in a dry desert, a stony heath or a sodden bog.
Poor growing conditions will mean poor trees with weak resistance to pests and diseases. Might as well face up to it.
