Moisture-sapped soil is stunting root growth in early fruit trees and causing them to flower prematurely says Invergordon grower Doug Brown.

Mr Brown, a Goulburn System irrigator, said trees needed water in August to aid root development before the trees flowered.

But the Goulburn System had little rain and well bellow average water right.

Mr Brown's 4 ha of 204 canning peaches has begun to break out in pink blossom.

"We're hindered by not having moisture and to take it to the extreme, it probably inhibits the tree to grow enough wood for the following year," Mr Brown said.

"There's a critical time in August to grow roots and in October to grow wood."

He said 1 Ml to 2 Ml/ha was needed to keep the trees alive in the coming months, but more than 5 Ml/ha to get a crop off.

"It's a concern at the moment that the soil's drying at a critical stage and we look to irrigation as the only way to add moisture to the soil if it doesn't rain," Mr Brown said.

Senior DPI horticulture adviser for the Murray and Goulburn valleys Henry Schneider said some areas in the Goulburn System had missed out on recent rain.

He said low humidity and dryness increased the risk of frost damage to plum and apricots that were about to flower.

"They're at higher frost risk and the dry soil is not wanted at the moment because we're actually trying to grow some root systems," Mr Schneider said.

"We don't want the root systems to grow at the same time as flowering."

Mr Schneider said growers should consider spraying off weeds in tree lines and getting bores ready for use and checking them for salinity.

"As soon as they've got water available they need to look at watering those that are flowering earlier," he said.

For horticulture advice phone Mr Schneider at the Cobram DPI office on 5871 0635.

nonie.stava@mcmedia.com.au