In case you hadn’t already heard (unlikely), fall is here, and that means apple picking season has also arrived. But while you’re out gathering the fall fruit, you might notice something in the orchard—reflective fabric on the ground.
So why do people put reflective fabric around trees? It’s all about light.
What you’re seeing is known as a reflective ground screen, and it’s designed to reflect the light hitting the ground back up into the fruit. When this happens, more light can get to the fruit in the middle and lower parts of the tree that might be covered by the canopy. This ensures those bottom levels get adequate amounts of sun, and it can have some big impacts like helping enhance color, balancing juice and sugar for better flavor, and controlling pests.
Typically, the ground cover is applied directly under the trees, but sometimes, it can be added all over the ground floor. That’s what you’re seeing when you head to orchards. In fact, you might even see it in some gardens…
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