What to Expect From Your Fruit Tree in May
Last updated: Apr 25 2023
Key takeaways
Fruit trees put on vigorous new growth in May, making it an ideal time to fertilize, monitor soil moisture, and support healthy fruit development.
Check young fruit trees regularly for developing fruit, thinning heavy crops when needed to improve fruit size and reduce stress on branches.
Water deeply during dry periods, especially while fruit is developing, to encourage strong root growth and help prevent premature fruit drop.
What are your fruit trees doing right now?
The good news for May is that flowers are waking up and growth is everywhere! The not-so-good-news? So are pests. May calls for preparedness as your plants continue to grow and flower, but don’t fret over battling bugs—as long as you arm yourself with these tips and tricks, you’ll be growing with success all month long! Here’s what to expect from your fruit trees in May:
Energy is Key
- Keep grass away from your trees to lower nutrient competition between your fruit tree and other plants. A good rule of thumb for all trees, no matter their age, type, or size, is to keep the ground within a foot of your tree clear of anything growing, including grass.
- Trim suckers as they appear. Suckers are long, spindly growth that occurs from the base of a plant. This growth will not flower or fruit and takes energy away from the fruiting part of the tree. When you see them, cut them back to the base to keep your tree on track.
- Don't panic if you see fruit drop prematurely. This is very common in trees that are younger or new to an area. On average, it takes around three years for a tree to become fully established. Your tree is simply saying it can’t support all of the fruit, so it will drop a few to maintain enough energy to grow the rest. Just clear the fallen fruit away—less fruit should drop with time.
Peaches prematurely dropping
Protect Your Harvests
- When your tree is flowering and fruiting, it’s best to not use any chemical sprays that could damage tender, new growth. If you notice a pest problem, try other solutions first to keep bugs at bay, like netting or breathable organza gift bags—simply place them over your fruits and voila! Pests stay out and fruits stay in.
- If your pest problem is out of control and you need to bring in extra reinforcements, be sure to read the labels on any products you’re using so that you don’t sacrifice your hard-earned harvest.
- Neem Oil is a great option for getting rid of both pests and diseases. When applying this to fruiting plants, we suggest diluting the mixture and spraying in the morning to prevent harming your growing harvest.
Keep Growing
To Help You Grow
NEW: Fruit Trees 101 Course
Our juicy, 6-part series is back and better than ever! Bring homegrown fruit to your own yard with our new-and-improved course filled with extra tips, product recs, and visuals. Our Plant Experts are letting you in on all the fruit tree secrets, from planting and pollinating to pruning, troubleshooting, and more.
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Written by
Sarah Logie
As Content Strategist at Trees.com, Sarah is smitten with words and a fanatic for flowers, particularly cut florals and house plants. With a love for curating compelling content, she also enjoys furthering her plant knowledge along the way! A few of her favorite flowers include hibiscus, hydrangeas, peonies and dahlias.
Sarah’s fondness for plants was cultivated through many childhood trips to Longwood Gardens in southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as through her first job out of college at a floral event design company. In her free time, catch her snapping photos of anything and everything, day-dreaming about interior decor, and enjoying the outdoors any chance she gets.
