Windbreaks for Orchards

Shelter but not shade is generally good for orchards.

• It raises the springtime temperatures encouraging bees, pollination, and fruit set 

• It reduces windrock of trees in the winter that can lead to tree death, in the Autumn it reduces fruit fall

Shelterbelt trees need careful choice, they can themselves harbour diseases[Poplar for example is a host to canker], they can take up too much space [conifers increase in width and are not easily trimmed].

The hedge on the left is Red Alder [Alnus rubra] before trimming 15/7/2011

 Alders tick alot of the boxes as they leaf early and can be trimmed tight they can be reduced in height when too tall.

After trimming top and sides using a hedge trimmer and loppers

The Orchard is on the other side of the trimmed shelter now reduced from 4.5metres to 2.5metres

This bright red hedge[Photinia 'Red Robin'] is used on our nursery to provide shelter for our plants growing in pots