A Year in the Life of an Orchard

Month

Trees

Worker's Jobs

January

• Dormant

• Pruning

February

• Dormant

• Care and repair of equipment

March

• Buds begin to form

• Disposal of pruning debris
• Grass mowing

April

• Buds begin to swell
• Blossoms appear
• Pollination begins

• Grass mowing
• Begin planting new trees

May

• Pollination continues
• Petals fall off

• Grass mowing

June

• Small fruit appears

• Limbs are shaped and stabilized
• Irrigation, if necessary

July

• Small fruit appears
• Apples begin to ripen

• Irrigation, if necessary
• Summer pruning
• Harvesting of a few early varieties

August

• Apples continue to ripen

• Ladders and barrels are assembled
• Harvesting of apples continues

September

• Apples continue to ripen

• Harvest continues

October

• Late apples ripen

• Harvest continues
• Cider and apple butter is made
• Fall apples are marketed

November

• Very late apples ripen
• Dormancy begins

• Begin planting trees

December

• Dormant

• Planting continues
• Pruning begins