June is a make-or-break month for fruit trees, and a little care now can mean a big harvest later. From pruning to pest control, every action counts.
The heat is rising, growth is surging, and your trees are hungry for attention. These 16 essential June tasks will keep your orchard happy, healthy, and heavy with fruit.
1. Thin Excess Fruit
Fruit trees often set more fruit than they can properly support. Remove smaller or damaged fruits, leaving about 6-8 inches between each one on the branch. This prevents branches from breaking under heavy weight.
Thinning also improves the size and quality of remaining fruit since the tree can direct more energy to fewer pieces. Your harvest might be smaller in number, but the fruits will be larger and tastier.
2. Monitor For Pests
June brings peak activity for many fruit tree pests. Check under leaves and along branches for aphids, mites, and fruit flies. Look for sticky residue, curled leaves, or tiny holes as warning signs.
Keep a magnifying glass handy for spotting smaller bugs before they become major problems. Natural predators like ladybugs can help control pest populations, so consider introducing these beneficial insects to your garden.
3. Apply Organic Fungicides
Humid June weather creates perfect conditions for fungal diseases. Apply organic fungicides like neem oil or copper spray to prevent powdery mildew, black spot, and other common problems.
Focus on treating both the tops and bottoms of leaves where spores often hide. Morning application works best, giving leaves time to dry before evening. Repeat treatments every 7-10 days, especially after rain washes away previous applications.
4. Deep Water Weekly
Summer heat increases water needs dramatically. Give your fruit trees a deep, slow watering once weekly rather than frequent shallow sprinkles. This encourages roots to grow deeper and makes trees more drought-resistant.
A soaker hose or drip irrigation works wonderfully, delivering water directly to the root zone. Aim for about 10 gallons per mature tree, adjusting for rainfall. Water early in the day to minimize evaporation and fungal issues.
5. Prune Water Sprouts
Those straight, vigorous shoots growing straight up from branches are water sprouts. They steal energy from fruit production and create unwanted shade. Remove them completely at their base using clean, sharp pruners.
Unlike major pruning done in winter, this summer maintenance is quick and simple. Focus only on these problematic shoots rather than reshaping the entire tree. Your tree will redirect energy to developing better fruit instead of useless leafy growth.
6. Apply Compost Tea
June is perfect for a nutrient boost through compost tea. This liquid fertilizer delivers beneficial microorganisms and readily available nutrients without burning roots in summer heat.
Make your own by steeping finished compost in water for 24-48 hours, stirring occasionally. Apply directly to the soil around your trees’ drip lines. The gentle nature of compost tea makes it ideal for fruit trees actively growing and developing fruit.
7. Install Bird Netting
As fruits develop, they become increasingly attractive to birds. Install protective netting before birds discover your ripening treasures. Choose netting with small enough holes to keep out your local bird species but large enough for pollinator access.
Secure the netting around the entire tree, leaving a few inches of space between it and the foliage. Anchor the bottom to prevent birds from sneaking underneath. This simple barrier can save your entire harvest from becoming bird food.
8. Mulch Tree Bases
Refreshing mulch in June helps retain soil moisture during hot summer days. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch like wood chips or straw in a circle around your trees, keeping it several inches away from trunks to prevent rot.
Fresh mulch suppresses weeds that compete for nutrients and water. It also moderates soil temperature fluctuations and provides habitat for beneficial insects. As organic mulch breaks down, it gradually feeds your soil with nutrients.
9. Support Heavy Branches
Growing fruit can weigh branches down to breaking point. Install supports under branches carrying heavy fruit loads using forked sticks, specialized fruit tree props, or fabric slings tied to upper branches.
Position supports carefully to distribute weight without damaging bark. Check weekly as fruit continues to grow heavier. Proper support prevents tragic losses just before harvest and protects your tree’s structure for future seasons.
10. Create Fruit Fly Traps
Fruit flies can destroy ripening fruit quickly. Make simple traps using plastic bottles with small holes cut near the top. Fill with a mixture of apple cider vinegar, a drop of dish soap, and a splash of fruit juice.
Hang several traps throughout your tree canopy. The sweet-sour smell attracts fruit flies, but once they enter, the soap breaks surface tension, causing them to sink. Check and refresh traps weekly for continuous protection during fruit development.
11. Check Irrigation Systems
June heat can quickly stress trees if irrigation fails. Inspect your watering system for clogged emitters, leaking connections, or damaged lines. Clear any debris from drippers and ensure water reaches the root zone effectively.
Test your system during daylight hours so you can spot problems. Adjust timers to account for increasing temperatures. Remember that consistent water supply is crucial during fruit development – irregular watering can cause fruit splitting and drop.
12. Protect From Sunburn
Young trees with thin bark can suffer serious sunburn in June. Paint trunks and lower branches with white latex paint diluted 50/50 with water. This reflects sunlight and prevents damaging heat buildup.
Alternatively, wrap trunks with light-colored tree guards or cloth. Pay special attention to sides facing southwest, which receive intense afternoon sun. Sunburned bark creates entry points for pests and diseases while weakening the tree’s overall health.
13. Remove Fallen Fruit
Fruit that drops prematurely often contains pests or diseases. Collect fallen fruit daily and dispose of it away from your trees. Never compost diseased fruit as this can spread problems throughout your garden.
Keeping the ground clear also reduces habitat for pests that might move from fallen fruit up into your trees. A clean orchard floor breaks the life cycle of many common fruit tree pests and diseases that would otherwise multiply throughout summer.
14. Apply Kaolin Clay
Kaolin clay creates a protective powdery barrier that confuses and repels many insect pests. Mix this natural product with water according to package directions and spray it onto fruit and foliage until they appear whitish.
The clay layer prevents insects from recognizing host plants and creates a physical barrier they don’t like to crawl across. It’s especially effective against apple maggot flies, plum curculio, and codling moths – all active in June.
15. Photograph For Records
Take detailed photos of your fruit trees in June to document their progress. Capture overall tree shape, fruit development, and any problem areas. These visual records help track growth patterns and identify recurring issues.
Label photos with dates and any treatments applied. Next year, you’ll have valuable reference points for comparing growth, timing interventions, and measuring success. Garden journals become much more useful with visual documentation of your trees’ seasonal development.
16. Check Tree Ties
Young trees with support stakes need attention as they grow. Inspect ties and stakes to ensure they’re not cutting into expanding trunks or branches. Loosen any constrictive ties immediately to prevent girdling damage.
Trees planted within the last two years often outgrow their original supports during active summer growth. Replace rigid ties with flexible materials like garden tape or old nylon stockings that allow for movement while still providing support against strong summer winds.