5 Reasons Fruit Trees Aren’t Fruiting or Stopped Fruiting

Summary

In this episode of the My Gardener channel, the host addresses common concerns about fruit tree cultivation, including why trees might not bear fruit or have stopped after initial fruiting. Key topics covered include pollination issues, frost damage, tree maintenance, pruning for better fruit set, nutrient deficiencies, and the natural aging process of trees. The host also provides practical advice on tree care, such as fertilizing and selecting the right varieties for the climate, ensuring a fruitful harvest in the long run.

Takeaways

• 🌳 Understanding Fruitless Trees: Many people struggle with fruit trees not producing fruit, even years after planting.
• 🍎 Assess Pollination: Ensure you have a good cross-pollination system with multiple trees to increase chances of fruit set.
• ❄️ Consider Chill Hours: Choose fruit tree varieties that match your climate's chill hours to prevent frost-damaged flowers.
• ✂️ Importance of Pruning: Regular pruning helps fruit trees focus energy on fruit production rather than excessive growth.
• 🌿 Nutrient Management: Identifying and addressing nutrient deficiencies, such as nitrogen and magnesium, is crucial for fruit production.
• ⏳ Age of Trees: Older trees may produce less fruit as they age; consider replacing if production decreases significantly.
• 🚫 Late Frosts: A late frost can kill flowers, leading to no fruit despite healthy trees.
• 🪴 Plant Compatibility: Some apple varieties require specific cross-pollination partners for successful fruiting.
• 🌱 Fertilization Timing: Fertilizing in both spring and fall can promote healthy growth and increase fruit yield.
• 🍑 Understanding Tree Lifespan: Different fruit trees have varying lifespans, affecting long-term fruit production expectations.

Q & A

Why might fruit trees not produce fruit even after several years of growth?

Fruit trees might not produce fruit due to various reasons such as inadequate pollination, lack of chill hours, improper maintenance, nutrient deficiencies, or the tree being too young or too old.

What is the significance of cross-pollination for fruit trees?

Cross-pollination is crucial for fruit set. Some fruit trees require specific crosses with other varieties to ensure successful fruit production. Without proper cross-pollination, the flowers may remain sterile and not produce fruit.

How can late or early frost affect fruit tree flowering and fruit set?

Late or early frost can damage flowers when they are vulnerable, leading to a lack of fruit set. Trees that require more chill hours might bloom early and get frost damage, which can prevent fruiting.

What is meant by 'chill hours' in relation to fruit trees?

Chill hours refer to the number of hours required below a certain temperature, typically freezing, to induce flowering in fruit trees. Different varieties have different chill hour requirements, and not meeting these can affect flowering and fruit production.

Why is pruning important for fruit trees, and how much should be pruned?

Pruning is important to manage the size of the tree, improve fruit production, and maintain overall plant health. It can help redirect the tree's energy from excessive foliage growth to fruit production. Typically, pruning back 20-25% of the tree is recommended for trees over five years old.

How can nutrient deficiencies in fruit trees be identified and what should be done?

Nutrient deficiencies can be identified by observing the leaves. Yellowing with green veins indicates a lack of magnesium, while curling and browning leaves suggest nitrogen deficiency. To address this, applying a broad-spectrum fertilizer with necessary nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium is recommended.

What is the role of fertilization in fruit tree health and fruit production?

Fertilization provides essential nutrients that support tree health and promote fruit production. It's especially important to fertilize in the spring and fall to support growth and prepare the tree for dormancy and the next growing season.

What are the typical life expectancies of different fruit trees?

The life expectancy varies by type; for example, peach trees may live for 15 to 20 years, pear trees for 30 to 50 years, and apple trees for 50 to 100 years. As trees age, they may produce less fruit.

How can one determine if their fruit tree is not producing due to its age?

By considering the tree's age and comparing it to the typical life expectancy of that fruit tree variety. If the tree is old and has been producing less fruit over time, it might be nearing the end of its productive life.

What are some signs of a healthy fruit tree according to the script?

A healthy fruit tree has vibrant foliage that doubles or triples in size each year and shows no signs of nutrient deficiencies. The leaves should be a beautiful, lush green without yellowing or curling.

What are the benefits of growing fruit trees mentioned in the script?

Growing fruit trees is rewarding as they can produce a significant amount of food with relatively low maintenance once established. They can also last for generations, providing a legacy for future generations.

Outlines

00:00

🍎 Fruit Tree Challenges and Pollination Concerns

The video script starts with an introduction to a gardening channel episode focused on addressing common fruit tree issues. The host, Luke, discusses the frustration of fruit trees not bearing fruit despite being planted years ago. He mentions personal experience with apple trees that have not produced satisfactory yields. The main topics for the episode include diagnosing why fruit trees may not be fruiting, the importance of cross-pollination, and the potential impact of pests and frost on fruit set. Luke emphasizes the need for multiple trees for effective pollination and the specificity of cross-compatibility among different fruit tree varieties.

05:01

🌳 Pruning and Nutrient Management for Fruit Trees

In the second paragraph, the script delves into the reasons why fruit trees might prioritize growth over fruit production, especially when they are young or have excessive foliage. The host explains that trees may take a decade or more to mature and start fruiting in earnest. Pruning is suggested as a method to control growth and encourage fruit set, with a recommendation to prune back 20-25% for established trees. Additionally, the importance of fertilization with a broad-spectrum fertilizer is highlighted to address nutrient deficiencies that can hinder fruit development. The host demonstrates the fertilization process and emphasizes the benefits of doing so in both spring and fall.

10:03

🍁 Addressing Age-Related Decline in Fruit Tree Production

The final paragraph addresses the natural aging process of fruit trees and its impact on fruit production. As trees age, they may become less productive, with some varieties having a shorter lifespan than others. The host provides life expectancy figures for different fruit trees, such as peach trees living for 15-20 years and apple trees potentially living for 50-100 years. The script concludes with a checklist for troubleshooting fruit tree issues, including age, fertilization, pruning, pest control, and suitable tree varieties for the local climate. The host encourages viewers to grow fruit trees for their long-term benefits and concludes the episode with a reminder of the rewards of fruit tree cultivation.

Keywords

💡Fruit Trees

Fruit trees are the central focus of the video, referring to various species of trees that produce edible fruits. They are essential for the video's theme as the host discusses common issues related to their growth and fruit production. Examples from the script include apple trees, which the host has had difficulty growing, and other types like peaches, cherries, plums, and pears.

💡Pollination

Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from the male reproductive organs to the female reproductive organs in plants, enabling fertilization and the production of fruit. In the script, the host mentions that a lack of cross-pollination can lead to fruit trees bearing little to no fruit, emphasizing the importance of having multiple trees for adequate pollination.

💡Chill Hours

Chill hours refer to the cumulative hours of temperatures at or below freezing that certain fruit trees require to induce flowering. The concept is crucial in the video as it affects the timing of blooming and potential frost damage. The host uses Michigan's climate as an example, stating that 600 to 800 chill hours are ideal for fruit trees in that region.

💡Fruit Set

Fruit set is the stage in a plant's life cycle when flowers develop into fruits after successful pollination. The script discusses how a lack of fruit set can be a problem, with fruits either failing to develop or falling off after setting, which can be due to various factors such as pollination issues or nutrient deficiencies.

💡Pruning

Pruning is the practice of selectively removing parts of a plant, such as branches or stems, to encourage better growth, fruit production, or to maintain shape and size. The host in the video suggests that improper maintenance, including lack of pruning, can lead to fruit trees prioritizing vegetative growth over fruit production.

💡Nutrient Deficiency

Nutrient deficiency occurs when plants lack essential elements required for their growth and development. The host illustrates this concept by showing two leaves, one healthy and one showing signs of chlorosis due to nitrogen and magnesium deficiency, which can affect fruit trees' ability to set fruit.

💡Fertilizing

Fertilizing is the application of nutrients to the soil or directly to the plants to supplement their growth. The video emphasizes the importance of fertilizing fruit trees with a broad-spectrum fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals to ensure they have the necessary nutrients for fruit production.

💡Drip Line

The drip line of a tree is the area directly beneath the outermost branches where water would naturally drip off the leaves. In the context of the video, the host advises fertilizing near the drip line, as this is where the tree's root tips are most active and can absorb nutrients more effectively.

💡Life Expectancy

Life expectancy in the context of the video refers to the natural lifespan of a fruit tree. The host mentions that as trees age, they may produce less fruit, and eventually, it may be necessary to replace them. This concept is important for understanding the long-term management and expectations of fruit trees.

💡Cross-Pollination

Cross-pollination is a type of pollination where pollen from one plant is transferred to the stigma of another plant, often of the same species but a different variety or cultivar. The script discusses the importance of cross-pollination for successful fruit set, noting that not all fruit trees cross with each other, and specific varieties may require certain partners for effective pollination.

💡Fruit Drop

Fruit drop is the natural or induced shedding of fruit from a tree, which can occur for various reasons, including after pollination if the tree is not receiving adequate nutrients or due to disease or pest infestation. The video mentions fruit drop as a potential issue if the tree is not properly maintained or if there are nutritional imbalances.

Highlights

Discussion on common issues with fruit trees not bearing fruit.

Importance of cross-pollination for fruit set in fruit trees.

Different apple tree varieties require specific crosses for better results.

The impact of frost on fruit tree flowers and the need for chill hours.

Assessing the need for proper fruit tree maintenance, including pruning.

The relationship between tree growth and fruit production.

Pruning techniques to encourage fruit set in fruit trees.

Nutrient deficiencies and their effects on fruit tree health and fruit setting.

Identifying signs of nutrient deficiencies in fruit tree leaves.

The benefits of fertilizing fruit trees in spring and fall.

Demonstration of how to fertilize a fruit tree properly.

The life expectancy of fruit trees and its relation to fruit production.

Consideration of replacing old fruit trees that no longer produce fruit.

Creating a checklist for troubleshooting fruit tree issues.

Encouragement to grow fruit trees for long-term rewards.

The low maintenance required for established fruit trees.

Fruit trees as a legacy that can last for generations.

Transcripts

what is going on everyone welcome to

another very exciting episode right here

on the my gardener channel i am so

excited for today's episode because in

today's episode we're going to talk all

about fruit trees

it's a very common question that we get

asked when people say luke i planted my

fruit trees five seven years ago and

they've never given me any fruit or luke

my fruit trees fruited the first year

and have never fruited since

what's going on what can i do to help

them and

when can i call it quits

so all of that and more is going to be

discussed in today's episode so i hope

you guys are going to enjoy make sure to

click the thumbs up button because it

really does help this channel out and

also make sure to subscribe we have so

much more content coming out and so you

might not even have fruit trees so even

if you don't find this video informative

we have lots of other videos coming out

and tons more videos we already have

uploaded on our channel so just make

sure you subscribe join the family and

let's get on into today's video so

whenever we get this question it always

strikes home because we do have two

fruit trees two apple trees that have

been an absolute pain in the butt to

grow we planted these apple trees six

years ago and since planting them they

have not given us anything now we do

have years where we'll get some kind of

meh fruits

and i mean i don't even i can't even see

any that's how few we have

but there's so few fruits that the pests

just hone in on them and we usually have

the fruits that are just all gnarly and

misshapen

now some would say well try spraying

your trees but it's very difficult to

spray your trees when there's no fruits

already on them and that really comes

back to fruit set when you actually have

flowers so every year we do get lots of

flowers

and that's the first thing that i would

ask you is are you getting lots of

flowers because if you are getting lots

of flowers there's just something

happening there's a lapse with

pollination that's causing a lack of

fruit now there can also be a lack of

fruit set once the fruits actually are

set if they're you know if the apples

are falling off or all your fruits are

dropping off could be anything peaches

cherries

plums apples pears it doesn't matter if

the fruits are setting and then falling

off that's a different issue which we'll

get into but the first thing that you

really want to assess is do you have a

good vibrant uh cross pollination

ecosystem you what you need is you need

multiple trees to provide adequate

crosses and the thing that's tricky is

different trees are are different uh or

different trees pollinate differently i

should say

so when it comes to apple trees apple

trees don't all cross with each other

now you do need a cross but say summer

crisp needs a

fuji and fuji might need a macintosh and

they do find that if you find these

specific crosses they will do better now

all apple trees will cross with all

other apple trees including wild apples

but they don't always have the best

results and so if you're planting say

one tree and you're out in the middle of

a field or you're you know far away from

other

apple trees it can cause the the flowers

to basically be sterile they won't ever

cross with anything and that can be an

issue

the second thing that can cause this is

if you have flowers

and then you have a late frost or an

early frost if you're in climates where

the fruit tree can grow but the flowers

have a hard time what you need to find

is you need you need a variety that has

more chill hours this is the amount of

hours required to actually induce

flowering and so the longer the chill

hours the longer it's going to take for

it to start flowering the lower the

chill hours the least the less amount of

hours it needs and basically the sooner

it'll flower so for instance here in

michigan what does very well is 600 to

800 chill hours these are the amount

these are the amount of hours at or

below freezing and so if you have

if you have a

a peach tree for instance a common chill

hour is between 300 and 600 chill hours

for apples a common chill hour is

between 400 and 800

if you're lower on the spectrum those

flowers might open sooner and then

they're killed off with a frost the tree

will be fine but the flowers won't be

and so just make sure that you're going

with a longer chill hour apple or

whatever fruit you're going with if

you're getting winter weather because

the flowers might open and then they're

killed and then that renders them dead

as well the third reason why your fruit

trees might not be setting fruit is

because they're not being properly

maintained

this tree here started out pretty well

maintained however it could use a

pruning and it might be one of the

reasons why this tree is not really

setting a lot of fruit now it did

blossom a lot in the spring it just

didn't set a lot of fruit later on and

so again there's kind of that lapse in

between there are blossoms but the

blossoms are not setting fruit now i do

have multiple

fruit trees and i do have adequate

crosses in the area

so i'm not concerned about that

so might it be that the fruit trees are

not being maintained and that's a

possibility

um one of the things you really want to

look at is how much foliage is the fruit

tree producing every single year is it

doubling in size is it tripling in size

if it's growing and growing at an

exponential rate what can happen is it

can basically prioritize growing rather

than fruiting and once it reaches a

certain age it will start to dial back

and start to fruit more however that can

take 10 to 20 years for that to actually

happen uh apple trees have been known to

grow for hundreds of years and they

don't quite reach fully mature age until

about year 10 to year 12 and so what you

can do is if you don't want to wait that

long you can do what a lot of apple

growers will do which is to actually

prune their plants back to essentially

stop that new growth and prioritize the

plant on on kind of focusing more on

fruit production it'll also keep the

plant more manageable and small which

helps with harvesting when the fruit

does get set but also it helps with

overall plant health because if there's

a lot of foliage what can happen is

things like blights and and

rust leaf spot a lot of fungal diseases

and pests can come in if there's a lot

of dense foliage also the fruit doesn't

ripen very efficiently if there's a lot

of foliage because

the sun can't reach the fruits so you

have a lot of like fruit dropping off or

fruit rotting because it's not ripening

properly

and so there's a lot of benefits to

pruning but one of the biggest ones is

more fruit set and that's because

there's so much energy that the plant

can can put out and if the plant

continues to put out energy towards new

growth it's obviously not going to put

energy in towards fruiting so it's very

important that uh that you as a gardener

come in here and you prune about 20 back

now that seems like a lot but it's very

typical uh for for uh fruit trees that

have been grown for more than five years

it's very common to prune back 20 to 25

percent and a lot of people will say

prune back 30

now i don't go quite that dramatic but

on a fully mature fruit tree you might

be able to get you might be able to get

by with that because um the root system

is so well established and the you know

the plant or the tree can put out so

much more growth that pruning off 30

even probably doesn't even affect the

tree and you're really going to keep the

tree maintained and just kind of keep it

consolidated down to this manageable

height as well as increase fruit

production so if you've never pruned

your fruit trees give that a shot

sometimes that can be that sometimes

that can be the catalyst that actually

helps spur on more fruit development the

fourth reason why your fruit trees might

not be setting any fruit is because

they're lacking nutrients

i have two different leaves here one is

a healthy leaf and one is a sickly leaf

now this leaf here

needs nitrogen and magnesium i can tell

because it's yellowing but it also has

green veins it's called chlorosis and so

um so the

the veins are still very green but the

surrounding leaf is yellow and that's a

lack of magnesium

now with a lack of nitrogen what you'll

notice is that the outside leaf will

actually start to curl downward and

start to turn brittle and and turn brown

so that tells me that there's a nitrogen

deficiency and a magnesium deficiency

now this applies to apples not all fruit

trees will respond this same way uh pear

trees will also respond the same way as

apples will so depending on the family

of fruit that you're growing just kind

of look up some of those signs and um

and if you're starting to see some of

those signs you can identify them better

and you know remedy the issue that can

be a huge reason why your fruit trees

don't set any fruit is because if

they're struggling to grow and then

they're struggling to basically

grow during the main season they take

all that energy they store it down in

their roots

then in the beginning of the year when

they break dormancy they produce buds

and leaves if they knew that the

previous season was rough they're not

going to produce any fruit the next

season because well they're going to

assume that the next season is going to

be just as rough when it comes to

nutrients so if they find that the

nutrients are there they're way more

likely to set fruit the next year so

even if you're showing signs of a

nutrient deficiency now which we do

because this is a nice healthy leaf as

you can see beautiful green gorgeous

that apple tree

it's it's healthy this tree it could use

some work and they're only about five

feet apart but they're showing clear

signs of nutrient deficiencies uh where

this one is at least and so i want to

address that

i don't want to wait until the next year

to address that i want to fertilize now

what i want to do is i want to fertilize

with an all-purpose you know broad

spectrum fertilizer something that's

going to give them nitrogen phosphorus

potassium trace minerals all that good

stuff we're going to apply trifecta plus

to this tree because we use trifecta

plus on everything in our garden but use

whatever you use whatever you like to

use anything that's nice and all-purpose

is going to be the ticket nitrogen

phosphorus potassium magnesium calcium

iron you want to focus on all of them

because you know trees they use a lot of

nutrients and they need a really steady

supply also fertilizing in the spring as

well as the fall can help fall when

they're going into dormancy kind of like

right about now when summer is kind of

waning it's getting later in the season

fertilizing now to get them ready for

the winter and then fertilizing them in

the spring with lots of nitrogen and

potassium

to help them with vigor and and coming

out of dormancy can help as well so i

like to fertilize my plants twice a year

before we continue this video i'm

actually going to get this tree

fertilized right now that way

i don't forget and also that way you can

see how i fertilize my trees so i

basically just take trifecta plus and i

just broadcast it around the base of the

tree now you can water it in afterwards

we have rain in the forecast for tonight

so i won't i won't have to water it in

but you really don't want to fertilize

the base of the tree you want to

fertilize

out

more near what's called the drip line

the drip line is where the

water would naturally shed with the

leaves and that's where the that's where

the root tips are and that's what's

going to take up the most nutrients so

i'm just

i'm just applying some fertilizer to the

soil surface here and then that's going

to work down through the soil as it

rains so that's all you have to do to

fertilize

and the fifth and final reason why your

fruit trees might stop producing fruit

is because they're just getting old

now fruit trees do have a life

expectancy just like anything else and

what you'll find is that over time the

fruit trees will just kind of get tired

and this really happens on really old

fruit trees things like 30 40

60 years old depending on the type of

fruit tree

peach trees have a life expectancy of

about 15 to 20 years very short

if you are if you're growing something

like a pear tree it could be something

like 30 to 50 years

apple trees their life expectancy could

be 50 to 100 years but as the trees do

get older they do produce less fruit and

so it's just something to consider that

you know if you are getting less and

less fruit or you're getting almost no

fruit at all it might be time to just

consider replacing the tree now again

that only has to do with the age of the

tree if you just planted the tree

it's not nearing its at the end of its

life expectancy it's pretty new in the

case of our apple trees here we just

plant them like i said they were

four-year-old trees and then we we grew

them for five years so these are only

about nine years old they're only about

10 percent of the way through their life

expectancy so for them to not be

producing any fruit right now tells me

that it's not that but it is nice to

have that mental checklist kind of the

troubleshooting guide to say okay are my

trees old

have i been fertilizing have i been

pruning

do i have any pests right have i even

have i even been checking for pests

do i have a tree that's just not really

suited for my my growing season are the

chill hours too low you know are they

are they just getting killed off from

the frost every single year or you know

maybe do i not have enough trees in my

area should i plant some more should i

make sure that there's a good you know a

good vibrant cross pollination um

in your you know in your area so these

are all the things that you look at and

eventually you do kind of come down to

some answers that are going to help you

out and these are all the five reasons

why your fruit trees might not be

setting any fruit or set fruit initially

and stop setting fruit as you grew them

so i hope you guys enjoyed i hope you

learned something new again if you did

enjoy this video please throw a like up

there and share this video with a friend

i know growing fruit trees for me is

probably one of the most rewarding

things in my garden

they are just they're so much fun to

grow and they can produce

so much food and once you get them

established and kind of get them growing

they take very little maintenance after

that just minor maintenance year to year

just like i said some pruning some

fertilizing maybe the occasional

mulching around the tree to suppress any

grass and weeds and stuff but other than

that

i don't really do anything and they're

so nice they can produce hundreds of

pounds of fruit for you and they can far

out last your life and even your

children's life and they can be a gift

that you can give future generations so

grow some fruit trees if you have not

yet already

and i will catch you all later on uh the

next episode so as always grow bigger go

home i'll catch you later see ya bye