As summer comes to an end and the cold weather arrives, it's easy to think that gardening season is over. However, did you know that autumn is the best time to plant fruit trees? Planting takes a lot of work but in the end it is usually very comforting. In this post we will talk about how to plant fruit trees.
Why add fruit trees to your garden?
Growing apple or cherry trees, for example, can produce high yields with very little maintenance. The fruit is a high-value crop, and there is no denying the taste of fresh fruit.
Why plant fruit trees in
autumn?
Autumn is a better time to
Planting fruit trees in climates with hot summers and soil
that doesn't freeze until December or later.
This is because the summer heat
and dry weather can affect a newly planted tree. In a
Warm weather, trees planted in summer need more water
to establish themselves, and rarely get enough to establish a
Strong root system.
On the other hand, a plantation in autumn
of fruit trees follows the natural growth cycle of the tree.
During autumn and winter, a tree enters a stage
inactive, and it is much better to transplant a tree during this stage.
It is advisable to plant fruit trees using a permaculture technique called fruit tree guild, in which fruit trees are planted with plants that benefit them. For example, lower plantings can naturally fertilize the soil while providing mulch. Or they could provide nectar for pollinators and attract beneficial insects.
If your fruit trees are
quite neglected and will not be sown with compost or plants of
support, it would be advisable to add fertilizer for trees
fruit trees at the time of planting.
Follow these seven steps and discover some tips on how to plant fruit trees:
Tip: You can plant them at any time! Although autumn plantings are best, planting fruit trees in the warmer months is not bad either. Plant them on a cloudy day and keep them well watered during their first season.
1) Preparation time!
First, prepare the planting site by scraping and removing the grass in a circle 60-90 centimeters in diameter.
2) Dig deep.
As you dig the hole, move the soil to piles; The top layer of soil moves to one pile and the subsoil to another. In our holes, the top layer of soil was rich and brown, while the subsoil was a thick reddish clay.
We found it was easier to place
cardboard next to the hole and place the earth on the cardboard,
so it is very easy to lift and shake the last pieces of
Dirt in the hole.
Three piles: grass, subsoil and
topsoil.
3) Polish the hole.
After digging to a depth of 45-60 cm, sand the bottoms and sides of the hole, which makes it easier for the roots to penetrate into the heavy clay.
Trees and shrubs remained
bent over in our big compost pile until we were
ready for planting.
4) Determine the right depth for planting.
Use a long stick through the hole to make it easy to determine the proper level to plant the tree.
5) Recharge.
Now it's time to put the contents of the hole back in the opposite order: first the grass, the top layer of soil around the roots of the tree, and the last subsoil. While it's important to treat the roots carefully, you can gently put the soil in place.
6) Water and mulch.
After planting, it is preferable to stack a large bowl-shaped wheelbarrow of horse manure around the tree. So the tree receives a significant amount of water now, and once a week during the first year (unless rain takes away our work to do).
7) Protect!
If your garden is not fenced, you may want to take the time now to consider fencing. It is normal for rabbit damage to occur if we leave our fruit tree trunks unfenced, so now, while planting, we wrap a 12-18" aluminum wire fence in a circle at a distance of 6" from the trunk.
We hope that with this entry you have more clear how to plant fruit trees and thus succeed in your planting. Best regards!
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