Goodnight Fruit Trees - Preparing for Winter
What does it mean to put your home orchard to bed?
Preparing fruit trees for winter in the Pacific Northwest is pretty easy, but also easy to overlook! Winter care includes things like mulching, pruning, and safeguarding trees from heavy rain, strong winds, and occasional freezing temperatures. You’ll also need to make sure the trees are healthy and strong going into the cold months.
Why It’s Important
Winter in the Pacific Northwest can be tough on fruit trees - more so as it gets harder to predict what winter weather will bring. Wet conditions and fluctuating temperatures can lead to issues like root rot, mold, or frost damage if trees aren’t properly prepared. By giving your trees the right care, you help them survive the winter and set them up for a healthy and productive growing season when spring arrives. Proper winter care also reduces the risk of pests or diseases taking hold over the colder months.
The work of mulching never ends….
what to do:
Apply Mulch:
When to do it: After the first hard frost, but before the ground freezes - but really, adding mulch is never a bad plan. Check out PGE and ChipDrop for (mostly) free arborist chips delivered to your house! Bonus points, tell them to skip bringing you any fruit tree chips, so you don’t introduce any pests/disease to your space.
What to do: Add 2–4 inches of organic mulch (like wood chips, straw, or leaves) around the base of your trees. This helps to insulate the soil, retain moisture, and prevent soil erosion due to rain. Be sure to keep the mulch away from the tree trunk to avoid rot or pest problems. The classic example is to put a doughnut of mulch around your tree, not a volcano against your tree!
Winterize Irrigation
When to do it: When the rain starts (now)
What to do: Take the batteries out of your timers, flush the system, and insulate any above ground PVC at the very minimum!
Protect Against Diseases and Pests:
When to do it: As the leaves are falling
What to do:
Get any fruit mummies off the trees (those brown shrivelled things that got overlooked in harvest season)
If there is fruit on the ground around your trees, pick it up and get it in your green bin (NOT your home compost)
Do you have disease on the leaves of your trees? Orange or black spots are big hints. Make sure to pick up the leaves that fall. It’s tempting to think of them as mulch, but instead, think of them as disease vectors and get them into your green bin! Picking up the leaves and any fallen fruit will help remove some of the spores, larva, and other problem characters from the soil.
Does your tree show signs of canker, fire blight or other oozing ickiness on branches or the trunk? You might need some professional help - see below.
Provide Wind Protection:
When to do it: In preparation for strong winter winds, typically in late fall. Are you in East Portland? It’s windier, so take extra precautions!
What to do: While the Pacific Northwest isn’t known for extreme cold, the region can experience powerful winds. If your trees are in an exposed area, consider putting up a windbreak—like a fence, hedge, or burlap screen—to protect your trees from wind damage and desiccation. You might also consider adding stakes to support young trees, or tying branches to help support them. Not sure how? We can help!
The work you put in during the fall and winter will pay for itself in the spring and summer with healthier and more abundant harvests!
Do you have questions or need help?
Check out the Home Orchard Education Center for workshops and more
Find articles and more with the Oregon State University Extension school
Take the next step with Portland Fruit Tree Project!
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