Protecting the fruit blossom

[Polarengineer]

What can you expert gardeners recommend to protect the fruit blossom? What sort of " fleece" do you use if that is the best method? Are there any quick and cheap solutions?

[niemeyjt]

Protect from frost? hail storms? birds?

I guess it all starts with planting a suitable rootstock - protecting a small tree will be easier than a large one - but I guess you are past that now. Also, getting a suitable flowering group for your area if frost is your concern.

Here the professionals seem to grow espaliered trees in rows connected to a wire framework which goes up 3 metres at least - and then there seems to be fleece suspended from the tops of the wire framework which always seems to be furled up as we drive past - but I guess is unfurled as required.

[exile]

I assume you are looking to protect trees/blossom already on place.

The only thing I can recommend is agricultural fleece. It seems thin and insubstantial but it will provide a good degree of protection for overnight frosts.

The other thing I have seen used is to spray your trees with water overnight. This freezes onto the buds which seems like a disaster but it seems it does protect them. Of course you will use a lot of water unless you have access to a free supply from a well or lake.

[Bayleaf]

+1 for agricultural fleece - the white stuff. There probably isn't much choice anyway, but it obviously works. We still have a huge roll of it from our Pépinière days, but as mentioned elsewhere, most of our fruit trees are just too high for that milarky now! I remember we used to help step-dad cover his cherry tree in Somerset - ladder, tractor and bucket job, and weighted fleece to get it up and over!! I can't be bothered with all that now ....!

Other option that the orchards do, is have small fires on the ground near the trees. Especially effective for protecting the vines, but probably interdit to all but the agriculteurs.

[Chappers51]

East Malling research station orchards used to use small paraffin heaters between the rows.

[Polarengineer]

Coming from Kent I should have remembered to ask a relative who worked there. Thanks for all your input folks, maybe the snow this morning has done the job for me.

[Quiksilver]

Fleece is handy for small trees but when the frost is combined with howling winds, not so practical! Even if the frost doesn't get the flowers, it's unlikely that pollinating insects will brave the conditions, so I reckon we're looking at a bad year for fruit Again.
ETA: For anyone with a grass-collecting mower, one alternative to the small bonfire idea would be to cut some grass, if it's dry enough, and mulch deeply around vulnerable trees...the heat generated by rotting grass is impressive!

[niemeyjt]

Also, if replanting, as I say above get the correct flowering group for your area. And on a smaller rootstock - easier to cover and to pick.

[Bayleaf]

mulch deeply around vulnerable trees...the heat generated by rotting grass is impressive!

But remember to remove it, or at least create a gap between the trunk base and the mulch (especially grass mulch), so that the tree can continue to breathe, and any mould in the mulch won't affect it either.

[Quiksilver]

In the end, I just left a heap of clippings to one side of each of the trees. When this cold spell is over, it'll be dispersed I'll keep you posted whether it works or not.