Pruning of the high-trunk orchards has started
Yesterday, on February 19, we started with the rejuvenation pruning and removal of the european mistletoe from the high-trunk fruit trees in meadow orchards. The first trees from 950 trees were pruned in Čepinci. Project co-workers will within the next days visit the owners of orchards within the Natura 2000 site Goričko and mark the trees for pruning. European mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that eventually depletes the tree so much that the tree dies. Old high-trunk trees with cavities are important breeding site of birds and habitats of other animals, like bats and beetles.
The selected external contractor started with the removal of the european mistletoe and rejuvenation pruning. With this conservation measure we will extend the life of these trees and protect the nesting sites of various birds in the future. Among them are scops owl and hoopoe that will soon return to Goričko.
