Planting Flower Strips in Apple Orchards Could Save Farmers Up to $4K (£3K) per Hectare, Study Finds

A cost-effective secret to keeping pests at bay in an apple orchard? Perennial flowers. At least according to findings from a new study that explored how planting strips of wildflowers could affect apple orchards in England.

In the study, scientists compiled data on the costs to plant perennial wildflower strips in apple orchards as well as the economic cost of damage caused by a common orchard pest, the rosy apple aphid (Dysaphis plantaginea). Perennial wildflowers attract predatory insects, including ladybirds, hoverflies and lacewings, which help with natural pest control by eating the aphids.

“Farmers could save money while boosting biodiversity and letting nature do some of the heavy lifting in looking after their crops,” Charlotte Howard, lead author of the study from the University of Reading, said in a statement. “There’s still more to learn about all the benefits of planting flower strips.”

Using data from a two-year study of 10 conventional apple orchards in southeastern England, scientists compared how five farms with flower strips performed compared to five orchards without. The farm data was pulled from a previous study that determined planting wildflower strips on apple orchards could increase the number of undamaged fruits in harvest by 2,420 kilograms per hectare, a 6.9% increase compared to orchards without wildflowers.

In the newest study, the scientists were able to further quantify the economic benefits of the reduction in damaged fruits from pests. In their data, the scientists considered both low-infestation years, when about 25% of trees had aphid damage, and high-infestation years, when up to 65% of trees had damage to their fruits.

From there, the team developed three scenarios to evaluate costs and benefits: 1) a flower strip planted just outside the orchard on standard grass headlands, 2) a flower strip planted on what would otherwise be used for apple crops and 3) a flower strip planted in the middle of the orchard.

According to the study, farmers could save up to £2,997 ($4,010) per hectare in a scenario where the flower strip was planted in the middle of the orchard and pest infestation was high.

But even by planting flowers in other locations during low or high infestations, farmers could still see cost benefits. The only case when there was a negative overall cost was during a low-infestation year with flower strips placed where crops would otherwise be planted. 

In addition to saving farmers money and wasting less fruit, the flowers could help attract more pollinators and increase biodiversity.

“By looking after our creepy crawlies, we can take better care of our apples,” Howard said. “Planting flower margins near fruit trees is a sustainable way of preventing damage to crops as it reduces reliance on insecticides. We will get more good bugs on farms and better British food in supermarkets as more flower strips are added next to orchards.”

Based on the results of both studies, which found a decrease in damaged fruit and an increase in cost benefits from planting perennial wildflowers in orchards, researchers have compiled an educational guide for UK farmers to consult if they are interested in planting flowers in their own orchards.