Check fruit trees and berry bushes for diseases

November is the beginning of the winter pruning season for most fruit trees. The advantage of this pruning date is that the crown structure can be assessed much better in the unfoliaged state than is the case in summer. In frost-free weather, older trees can be thinned out or rejuvenated, and younger trees can be pruned to build up their crowns.

Pruning of trees and hedges should be done by the end of the month at the latest, as this is when the breeding season of native bird species begins. To protect the birds, more extensive pruning must now be suspended from March 1 to October 1.

Once harvested currants and raspberries, the bushes should be thinned. This maintains the vitality and health of the plants and leads to good exposure of the ripening fruit next summer. It is also easier to harvest bushes that have been regularly thinned out.