Why Are Orchards Near Bodies of Water?

Need For Water

• Many orchards, such as Littletree Orchards in Newfield, New York, rely on rainfall as a water source. Water keeps crops healthy and thriving. The less water, the more possibility of drought issues and inadequate fruit productions. Bodies of water are often used as a backup for dry times.

Local Bodies of Water Benefits

• According to Amara Steinkraus, assistant orchard manager at Littletree Orchards, bodies of water may provide protection to orchards. Lakes, and other bodies of water, can help mitigate temperatures, she said, allowing orchards to stay a few degrees cooler in the summer and a few degrees warmer in the winter. Bodies of water also often provide slopes, which may protect orchards against harsh weather and early frosts.

Using Bodies of Water for Orchards

• Bodies of water offer backup sources of water for orchards that generally rely on rainfall. During drier periods, water may be taken from nearby ponds, lakes or springs to make up for reduced rainfall. Bodies of water can also be used for irrigation purposes, requiring extensive investments and labor costs.

Local Bodies of Water Detriments

• According to an article by the University of Vermont Apple Program, positioning an orchard too closely to a body of water may result in over-irrigation. If the soil is waterlogged, the orchard will not thrive and plant crops will drown. Marshy areas are never good sites for orchards. Flooding may also be an issue, depending on the proximity of the orchard to the body of water.