Mélina Facchin / Photo credits: Europe 1 6:45 a.m., March 9, 2024

With the particularly mild temperatures of recent weeks, some trees are already in flower, which worries arborists.

If the buds were to freeze in the coming weeks, production losses could be considerable, as has happened regularly for several years.

February 2024 was the hottest February on record worldwide, according to the European Copernicus Observatory.

In France, temperatures were 3.4°C above seasonal norms and all regions were affected.

So obviously, nature is getting ahead of itself and some trees are already in flower.

This worries arborists who fear that the buds will freeze in the coming weeks, like Westhoffen, in Bas-Rhin.

“We have a fortnight in advance”

The weather has been nice and a little warmer than usual in recent weeks in Alsace.

While pruning his peach and apricot trees, Daniel Dettling, arborist, notes this: “They have budded, we can see the first flowers,” he says.

“We've been used to it being a little early for several years, but it's really particularly early this year. We're a fortnight early,” he confirms.

However, spring is not quite here yet and there is still a risk of frost in the coming weeks.

“If we now go down to -5°C, my trees will become expensive!”, assures Daniel Dettling.

He can afford to lose a few trees in this way, "but if this happens several nights in a row, we lose the battle for lack of fighters," he worries.

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“We will put candles”, but not so early

Daniel Dettling has been observing the effects of global warming for several years now.

He has already lost almost 50% of his harvest due to early flowering and late frosts.

So, he is ready for the possible winter nights to come.

“We will put candles which will warm the atmosphere, thus avoiding frost,” he explains.

“But clearly, we cannot start the fight so early.”

Arranging and lighting candles under each tree is indeed very restrictive and tiring.

Except you have to hold on until the end of May!

“This year, I really don’t feel it”

So for the first time, Daniel Dettling had his trees insured.

“The contribution is still 18,000 euros,” he sighs.

“But I think this year it was relevant to make sure.”

The arborist is almost convinced that he will inevitably suffer production losses.

“This year, I really don’t feel it,” he concludes.

Above all, he hopes that his other trees (cherry trees, apple trees, plum trees) will wait a little longer before flowering in their turn.