Ginkgo Care
Ginkgo biloba
An extremely hardy deciduous tree regarded as a living fossil. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils; male trees, which do not drop fruit, are generally used in landscaping because the fruits of female trees smell bad.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- Watering: Not needed except for young saplings (10 L once a month if the soil dries out badly); natural rainfall is sufficient.
- Plant protection: Not needed. There are no known serious pests or diseases.
- General care: Keep the area around the tree clean.
- Pests & diseases: Observe. Frost protection is not needed; it is very hardy.
- Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown. Keep a single trunk in young trees; a double trunk is risky. Minimal pruning is enough; the branches rarely break. Remove unwanted shoots during dormancy.
- General care: Clear weeds.
- Pests & diseases: Check the trunk and branches. Frost protection is not needed.
- Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
- Fertilizing: To support the development of very young seedlings, a slow-release balanced fertilizer (15-15-15 NPK) (30-50 g/tree) can be applied; it is not needed for mature trees.
- General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins.
- Pests & diseases: Observe the newly emerging leaves.
- Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
- General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
- Watering: For young saplings, 20 L per week. For mature trees, one deep watering per month in drought.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- General care: Make sure the water penetrates deeply.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- Pruning: Remove only branches damaged by the storm, if there are any.
- General care: Watch for signs of stress (leaf yellowing/drop); this is usually a sign of thirst.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- General care: Observe the tree as it prepares for autumn coloring.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
- Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
- General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
- Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
- General care: Good time for planting and transplanting. Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under them.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
- Plant protection: Not needed; if you are in a very problematic area, dormant oil can be considered as a precaution, but it is almost never needed for Ginkgo.
- General care: Observe the tree's framework so you can plan future pruning needs.
- Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
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