Monty Don is urging gardeners not to worry about fruit trees shedding fruit this summer – it’s actually a good sign

If you’ve noticed your apple tree has dropped all its fruit this summer, Monty Don wants to reassure you not to panic, and it is simply the result of the drought.

Apple trees are highly regarded as one of the easiest fruit trees to plant for a plentiful harvest, but this year, you may have been left disappointed when your trusty tree has dropped a load of half-ripe apples in your garden.

While this isn’t something to panic about, your tree has likely shed its fruit to conserve water and energy during this summer's drought conditions. So, I spoke to garden experts about how to support your fruit tree right now, plus what to do with dropped fruit.

Why are fruit trees dropping fruit this year?

You may have already heard of the June Drop, whereby fruit trees drop a small amount of their harvest in early summer in response to natural cues. It’s the tree's natural way of balancing its energy. But this year, you may have noticed your tree has dropped all its fruit.

On the Gardeners World Instagram page, Monty Don explained why this isn’t something you need to worry about.

‘If you find your apple trees are dropping apples left, right and centre, don’t worry; it’s a result of the drought, but the tree is looking after itself,’ he said.

‘The tree is running out of water. The fruit are taking up a huge amount of that water. In order to save some fruit, they have dropped apples. Now it might seem like a disaster, but actually it means that the tree is responding to drought and handling it.’

And dropped fruit is something that Natalie Derham-Weston, head gardener at Lainston House, has noticed recently, too.

‘At Lainston House, we have already picked four lots of dropped fruit when we wouldn't usually be picking any until early/mid September!,’ she said.

‘With little or no rain, the trees become stressed and shed some of their fruit to conserve water and energy. This is a very clever way of protecting themselves. Other contributing factors can include poor pollination, pests or disease. However, if the fruit looks healthy and the soil is noticeably dry, drought stress is the most likely explanation.’

How to support your fruit tree this summer

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to support your best fruit trees during prolonged drought.

‘The most recommended action would be to water deeply and slowly around the root zone, particularly beneath and around the canopy, which will put water where the tree can absorb it,’ explains Natalie.

‘Mulching with wood chips, bark, compost or well-rotted organic matter around the base in a wide circle will trap in moisture. Avoid fertilising as this encourages new growth which requires water and energy, neither of which the tree will have spare of currently. Also refrain from heavy pruning, which could add to the tree's stress and potentially affect next year's growth.’

You should also start thinking about next year’s harvest, too, Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture, advises.

‘Next year, thin out smaller fruitlets by hand early in the season so that the remaining fruits can grow larger and stronger,’ he says.

What can you do with dropped fruit?

Now, if you’ve found yourself with a load of half-ripe apples on your hands this summer, our experts have provided some handy ways to reuse them so they don’t go to waste, or you risk upsetting your neighbours for not picking up your windfall.

‘If there is an excess of fruit dropping from your fruit trees, you can add it to your compost bin or heap. However, ensure that you are adding plenty of woody material to keep the mix balanced, and cutting the fruit up into smaller pieces can speed up the composting process,’ says Richard.

‘Any dropped fruit that is not diseased or damaged by pests can be left out to feed wildlife. Cut the fruit into smaller pieces to make it easier for wildlife to eat, but ensure that you remove fruit before it begins to rot to avoid attracting pests.’

If your apples are ripe enough, you can also use them for cooking, which is something that Natalie recommends.

‘Apple puree, chutney or jelly are great if the fruit is a little small and not as sweet. Apples can also be frozen; peeled, cored and sliced and saved for later,’ she says.

‘Juicing is another great way of using apples if you have a large quantity, and is what we do at Lainston House every year.’

Support your fruit tree

The year's heatwaves have been challenging and dropping fruit is simply your tree's way of coping.