Change of climatic conditions will be a consideration for orchardists going into this year’s pruning season.
With the switch from the current La Nina weather pattern and a return to the familiar El Nino, there could be a change in Australia from above average rainfall conditions of the past three years to the familiar hot, dry days.
According to an article in the Guardian: Australia could swing from three years of La Niña to hot and dry El Niño in 2023, a strong El Nino is a prospect, but neutral conditions are also a possibility.
Prepare for pruning
With this forecast in mind, careful preparation for pruning and staking will ready the trees for the coming season.
Harvestwear has a couple specialised products designed to minimise disease:
• The Sanitiser Secateur Pouch—an innovative pouch to immerse secateurs in sanitising liquid during pruning.
• The Horticulture Apron—a pouch to carry tools, made of thick tanned leather, riveted at stress points for additional strength.
Pruning tool equipment gets a hard life at this time of the year, but is an investment that can last for many years if taken care of while stored and being used.
See this article in Tree Fruit April 2023
