Winter storm could impact fruit trees and fruit harvest this summer
Apr 12, 2022, 12:50 PM
Tree blossoms covered in snow after storms passed the morning of April, 12 2022. Photo credit: Aimee Cobabe/KSL NewsRadio
SALT LAKE CITY — This week’s winter storm may negatively impact how much fruit we get this summer.
Thankfully this latest snowstorm came before most trees have any leaves, according to Andy Stevenson, general manager of J&J Garden Center. He said that saved trees from losing branches and having a lot of damage.
“The worry is more with our fruit trees. You could get a really low yield as far as fruit this season,” Stevenson said
This comes after several weeks of above-normal temperatures. But the overnight temperatures this week are forecast below the freezing mark.
“We’ve had some really hot days. So the trees think, oh let’s start doing our thing. Then all of a sudden you get this drastic cold snap like we’re going to get. And that’s when it goes in and does its damage on them.” Stevenson said.
Stevenson mentioned there are steps you can take to protect your trees from winter-storm impacts. If they already have leaves, you can try brushing the snow off of them. That way the branches won’t snap with the added weight.
Another suggestion from Stevenson was to cover smaller fruit trees with tarps to protect them from freezing temperatures.
