Hello, we are in the month of September, and it is important to continue certain practices for hazelnut plants to recover, prepare for the new harvest, and enter the winter season successfully after the harvest.
This month, soil analysis sampling can begin. I recommend taking soil samples immediately after the harvest before any fertilization is applied.
Otherwise, accurate results cannot be obtained from soil analyses. When taking soil samples, the most important thing to consider is that the sample should represent the entire orchard. Samples should be taken from about 8-10 points, with one sample per 20 acres. Avoid taking soil samples from areas near roadsides, fertilizer piles, or places with standing water. Walk in a zigzag pattern according to the overall appearance of the orchard and collect soil samples from the projection of the tree canopy. When taking soil samples, make sure to remove any surface vegetation. Dig a hole to a depth of 25-30 cm and collect a soil section about 3-4 cm thick from the wall of this hole. From these different points, remove foreign materials such as stones and leaves, mix the soil homogeneously, and place 1.5 - 2 kg of soil in bags, label them, and take them to the laboratory. If the soil is moist, it should be dried in a shaded area before being taken to the laboratory. In areas with different soil types and slopes, soil samples should be taken separately. Please avoid common mistakes when taking soil samples, such as not adjusting the soil depth, taking samples from the surface, storing soil samples in fertilizer sacks, or not mixing soil samples from different points.
This month, it is necessary to combat the Filbert Leafroller and the May Beetle pests in your orchard.
The Filbert Leafroller can cause young shoots to dry up. One larva can dry up five shoots. As a cultural measure, cut and remove dried shoots with the webs created by the larvae and take them away from the orchard. To decide on spraying, check if there are brown spots where the central vein and lateral veins of the leaves meet underneath the leaves. If 15 or more out of 100 leaves examined show damage, spraying should be done.
Another harmful pest, the May Beetle, causes premature and rapid drying of branches in hazelnut trees. The main factor in their spread to orchards is the direct application of animal manure. Animal manure, especially hazelnut husk residues, must be composted before use. As a cultural measure, adults should be collected when seen, and during orchard cultivation, larvae should be collected and destroyed. Chemical control of the May Beetle should be done in September-October. For this, dig a 1-square-meter area with a soil depth of 25 cm to search, and if there are at least 3 larvae, soil treatment should be applied. To protect the roots from damage, you can also use a band-style application around the base of the tree.
Starting this month, pruning and root shoot cleaning can be performed. When pruning, remove dried, unproductive, diseased branches, and root shoots within the orchard. Depending on the size of the orchard, thin out the branches to ensure that all branches receive sunlight, leaving 6-7 branches. The more sunlight hazelnut branches receive, the longer the annual shoots on the branches, and the more flower buds and catkins there will be. Generally, pruning should be completed before the onset of winter cold. Otherwise, both wound healing and cutting will become more difficult. When pruning, always use protective equipment and avoid putting yourself at risk.
