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Planting and Care of Your Fruit Trees
Planting
1. When your tree arrives, place it in a cool area out of the sun. Don't allow your tree to be exposed to extreme heat or freezing temps.
2. Keep your bareroot tree's roots moist or if it is potted, give a good watering.
3. When you are ready to plant, dig a hole about 24" in diameter and 24" deep. Amend the soil with 50% potting soil if your soil isn't very fertile and top dress with well rotted compost or fertilizer.
4. Trim the roots to fit in the hole if necessary. Try not to bend any roots to fit them in the hole, trim them if necessary. If a root is broken, cut it above the break.
5. Place the tree in the hole so that its' graft union is about 3-5" above the soil line and orient it facing north or away from any prevailing winds.
6. Fill the hole in with your natve soil or your potting soil mix, working the soil around the roots. It's important to remove as many air pockets from around the roots as possible. Top dress with compost or fertilizer. Remember not to add fertilizer or compost at the tree's root zone, just the top layer of soil.
7. Water thoroughly after planting and again the next day.
Pruning
1. Pruning is carried out during the dormant season when the trees have lost their leaves.
2. For potted trees that have been purchased during the growing season, any pruning should be for correcting damage or for asthetics.
3.During the first dormant season or if you have purchased a dormant bareroot tree, cut the central leader and any branches 1/2 their length to a plump bud facing the direction you would like the new growth to grow.
Care
1. During the summer, weed around your tree and irrigate with approximately 1" of water per week. Mulching around your tree also discourages weed growth and keeps the soil surface evenly moist.
2. Paint the trunk of your tree with a 50/50 mixture of latex white paint and water. This will help keep you tree from sunburing.
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