The apricot blossom, a symbol of Tet, brings good fortune and a unique festive atmosphere. However, potted apricot trees often lack nutrients after Tet and require careful care for them to bloom again the following year.
Additionally, apricot trees planted in gardens need extra care after Tet to stay healthy. Join us as we explore how to care for potted and garden apricot trees during and after Tet!
1 Caring for Apricot Trees During Tet
Ensuring the healthy growth and development of apricot trees is not easy if you don’t know effective care methods. And each type of apricot tree requires a different approach.
Caring for Potted Apricot Trees Indoors
Indoor Apricot Tree
When kept indoors, apricot trees don’t get direct sunlight, resulting in reduced photosynthesis. This leads to thin, pale green leaves, and long but weak branches. Many people don’t bother to properly care for their apricot trees and only water them occasionally. If you don’t take good care of your tree, it may not bloom again next year.
After Tet, it’s best to move your apricot tree outdoors to a shaded area so it can gradually adjust to the outside temperature. Remove the flowers and leaves to allow the tree to focus its nutrients on its own growth.
Caring for Outdoor Apricot Trees
Outdoor Apricot Tree
For apricot trees planted in the ground, minimal care is needed as they are already adapted to the natural environment. Simply remove all flowers and buds to allow the tree to concentrate its nutrients on its growth. Since the tree is used to being outdoors, there’s no need to move it to a shaded area.
Further Reading: Meaning, planting, and care instructions for yellow apricot trees
2 Caring for Apricot Trees After Tet
Pruning Apricot Trees
Pruning Branches
To keep your apricot tree healthy and blooming for the next year, you need to know how to care for it after Tet. Pruning the branches and shaping the tree should be done about a week after Tet. Depending on the type, shape, and size of your apricot tree, different techniques and pruning methods can be applied, such as shaping the tree like a pine tree, with shorter upper branches.
Typically, you’ll want to cut off about 1/3 of the branches. This helps remove excess flowers and leaves, promotes the tree’s development, and creates a beautiful shape for the next Tet.
Next, mix one teaspoon of urea fertilizer with ten liters of water and spray it on the tree. This stimulates the tree’s growth and provides essential nutrients to aid in its recovery after Tet.
If you notice that the branches aren’t growing much, you can add one gram of GA3 powder to 30-40 liters of water and spray it on the tree and its roots.
Once the tree has recovered, gradually expose it to sunlight. The apricot tree will produce new leaves and shoots when exposed to the sun. However, the warm and humid weather also attracts various pests and diseases.
Therefore, mix two types of pesticides containing Hexaconazole (Anvil) and Fipronil (Regent) and spray the tree for the first time about ten days after pruning. Spray again when new shoots appear, and a final time after the leaves have matured.
Cleaning Your Apricot Tree
Cleaning the Tree
To promote the healthy growth of your apricot tree, it’s essential to keep it clean. A simple way to do this is to use a hose to spray down the tree and remove any mold or mildew that may have built up. Alternatively, you can use a brush to scrub the tree vigorously and remove any harmful mold.
You can also use chemical agents like urea fertilizer mixed with water and sprayed on moldy areas, followed by a gentle scrub.
Note: If you’ve sprayed urea on the tree, avoid letting it drip onto the roots (you can use a plastic bag to cover them). After spraying, wait about ten minutes, then use a brush to scrub the tree vigorously to remove any remaining mold.
Shaping Your Apricot Tree
The ideal time to shape your apricot tree is at the end of July or late summer when the tree is growing vigorously. Before shaping, remove any unnecessary, weak, or diseased branches.
You can use copper, lead, or cloth wires to gently shape the tree without causing harm.
To make shaping easier, it’s best to pre-shape the apricot tree before wrapping the wires. Shape the tree in the following order: from the trunk to the main branches, then to the surrounding branches, and finally, from larger to smaller branches.
Shaping a Young Apricot Tree with Copper Wire
When wrapping the wires, avoid making them too loose or too tight, and for diagonal wraps, create a 45-degree angle with the trunk. Twist the branches in the direction of the wire to help secure them to the tree. The wires can be removed after about 3-4 months or a year.
Fertilizing Your Apricot Tree
When fertilizing your apricot tree after Tet, avoid using too much fertilizer or chemical agents with high concentrations, as this can overload the tree with nutrients and cause rapid changes in its cycle, or even damage its roots. Using fertilizer or inorganic fertilizer is sufficient for the tree’s growth at the beginning of the rainy season.
When replacing the soil, don’t fertilize immediately afterward, as the roots may not be able to absorb the nutrients yet, and the fertilizer could harm them.
3 Monthly Care Routine for Apricot Trees
Caring for Apricot Trees from January to June
From January to June, the tree is recovering from the festive season, so it’s essential to focus on its revival. Here’s what you should do:
- Trim 30% of the branches.
- Replace the soil and add nutrients to nourish the tree.
- Add phosphorous fertilizer.
- Water correctly.
- Expose the tree to sunlight, rotating it 180 degrees every two weeks for even growth.
Caring for Apricot Trees from July to December
From July to December, your apricot tree should be healthy and vibrant. However, it still needs a nutrient-rich diet, so focus on fertilizing with high nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations.
Be cautious of seasonal diseases like leaf spots and iron rust. Towards the end of November, start removing all leaves to allow the tree to focus its energy on bud production.
Notes on Caring for Apricot Trees After Tet
Post-Tet Apricot Tree Care
After Tet, remove all flowers, leaves, and buds to ensure the tree’s nutrients are focused on its growth. Leaving them on will deplete the tree’s nutrients, hindering its development for the next year.
Place the tree in a natural outdoor space to allow it to absorb nutrients from its surroundings.
Avoid disturbing the soil around the roots, as this can impact the tree’s growth for the next Tet.
Further Reading:
This article has provided you with the steps and considerations for caring for your apricot tree after Tet to ensure it blooms again next year. Follow these tips, and you’ll be rewarded with the vibrant yellow blossoms of the apricot tree come Tet.
Tips for Maintaining Plum Blossom Trees at Home After Tet for Yearly Enjoyment
After the Tet holiday, the apricot tree needs to be given proper attention and care in order to be able to blossom again the following year! Taking care of these trees is pretty straightforward, but understanding how to do it correctly can be tricky. Follow the below steps to successfully take care of your apricot tree post-Tet and ensure it blooms in all its glory next year!
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