Reasons to pick up fallen fruit in your garden
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Autumn is nearly here, and with it the inevitable fall of fruits and debris from trees in our gardens.
While it might seem tempting to leave them there to rot into the ground, a gardening expert has warned that this could cause damage, potentially costing hundreds of pounds.
Expert gardener James Lewis from MyBuilder.com, the reliable way to hire tradespeople, warned that rotting fruit can have all sorts of undesirable outcomes.
From attracting unwanted pests, to causing multiple new growths of trees, there are various issues that can be caused by leaving fruits on your lawn. While some are just annoying, others can potentially cost several hundred pounds to sort out – or even lead to the damage or death of your trees.
Fruit should ideally be collected as soon as possible after it drops, as the rotting process attracts wasps and other pests. Soon after that, the rotting fruit can spread seeds to other areas of your lawn, leading to unwanted self seeding of new trees.
MyBuilder.com gardening expert James Lewis said: “It may seem like an unnecessary job to pick up fruit, but actually it can cost you a lot more time, energy, and even money, if you leave it.
“Unpleasant outcomes, like the smell it can cause, are one thing – but attracting rats or causing the death of your tree is entirely another. Pick up the fruit and dispose of it in a compost heap well away from your home, or take it to the tip if needed. It will save you many potential problems if you do.”
Problems caused by leaving fruits to rot include:
Attracting pests
Wasps, bees, and insects all love fresh and newly rotting fruit. This may affect your ability to enjoy your garden, and could lead to stings or bites. However, the bigger problem is when rotting fruit attracts vermin such as rats. Rats are attracted to the smell of the fruit, and it can provide a good food source for them. A rat infestation can be distressing and also extremely costly, with prices for pest removal starting at approximately £100 – and often can be much more should they prove tricky to eradicate.
Diseases
Unfortunately, fallen fruit is a breeding ground for many bacteria and fungi if the fruit is left to rot on the lawn. This is dangerous, because if left there it could spread to the tree itself, as well as neighbouring healthy plants. If your tree becomes diseased and needs removal, the costs can be more than £200. Fighting to save diseased trees can also be extremely costly, and methods are often ineffective.
Weed growth
Weeds can commonly grow around fruit trees if fallen fruit is not removed. This is because if the fruit is left to rot, the soil receives rich organic matter which provides perfect growing conditions for weeds. While removing weeds can be done yourself, it tends to become an ongoing job once they are established in an area. The cost of weedkiller should be taken into account, or the time of your gardener (if you have one).
Ruin your lawn
Fruit that has fallen onto the lawn will impact the grass in several ways, including by blocking the sunlight and air from reaching the grass, as well as the weight of the fruit flattening the blade. This will damage or even kill your grass if the fruit is not removed. In just one day the grass can begin to yellow; in two days it can enter a dormant state, and after just two weeks of fallen fruit, it can begin to die. The cost of reviving a lawn can be significant, with lawn treatments being expensive and sometimes ineffective. In the worst case scenario, re-turfing may be necessary.
Plant spread for certain trees
While fruit may be a food source for us, to a tree, its fruits are a way of dispersing its seeds. For this reason, leaving fruit on your lawn can spread the seeds rapidly, until your whole garden is full of fruit tree saplings. Species such as apple trees can spread rapidly through their fruit, and if that’s not your aim, you’re best to remove your fruit before you have a forest of saplings in your lawn.
