Fruit Gardening In December

Newly-planted fruit - apples, cherries, currants, gooseberries, pears and raspberries-should be pruned back.

Check grease bands and renew the grease if it has gone hard.

Banding grease will also stop rabbits eating tree bark. Apply up to about three feet from the ground.

Fruit trees making poor growth should be pruned hard.

Check apples, pears and plums for suckers and remove.

Give fruit grown in grass extra nitrogen intheform of slow-release hoof and horn meal.