Care in the first three years

Young mango trees need steady water, some shade, protection from frost and cattle, and their first flowers removed so they put their strength into growing.

Shade and frost. NABARD advises giving young plants some shade for their first one or two years. ICRAF notes that frost kills tender growth, so in the north cover a young sapling loosely with a jute or straw hood on nights when IMD warns of frost, and remove it in the morning (practical guidance).

Remove early flowers. TNAU advises not allowing flowering for the first three years and removing flower clusters as they appear. Also rub off any shoots from below the graft union (TNAU, Vikaspedia).

Shaping. NABARD suggests keeping about 1 m of the main trunk free of branches, then letting a few main branches grow in different directions.

Weeds and mulch. Weed the basin during the rains and mulch it with straw or dry leaves, kept a hand's width from the stem (practical guidance).

Water in later years. Once the tree is old enough to fruit, NABARD says not to water for 2–3 months before flowering, because that pushes leaves instead of flowers.

Pests and diseases. TNAU lists hoppers, mealybugs, stem borers, fruit flies, powdery mildew, anthracnose and malformed flower clusters among mango problems. If you see sticky leaves, white powder on flowers, black spots, bunched flower heads or holes in the trunk, take a sample or clear photos to your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) or horticulture office, and do not spray anything without their advice.