How to Plant a Fruit Tree

Materials:

•   Tree

•   Shovels

•   Tarp

•   Compost and/or amendments

•   Water

Step 1: Dig

Dig a hole that is twice as big as the root ball and 8” deeper than the depth of the root ball. It helps to remove the sod around the area first. Lay out your tarp right next to where you will be digging. Make a pile with the sod in one corner. As you dig, place your pile in the other corner.  Dig around to make a circle approximately 1.5ft from where the trunk of the tree will be planted. Lay the sod root side up in the bottom of the hole. (The organic matter will decompose and eventually provide food for the tree.) You can also add compost at this time, but it may only be necessary if the soil is poor. Otherwise, have your compost ready for “top dressing” by covering ~1-3 ft diameter around the base of the tree (2 in. thick) with compost after the tree has been planted. This allows the nutrients to feed the tree while being watered.

Step 2: Plant

Pre-soak the tree and water the hole. Gently remove the tree from the pot. Investigate the roots. Depending on how long it has been potted, you may need to tease or cut apart the root ball. Loosen the soil around the roots and help them to span out in all directions. Place the tree in the hole and help it get settled into the hole by orienting it upright and level with the ground. Then add the soil from the hole back into the hole and fill in around the roots of the trees by gently tamping it down. Water as you go! Keep filling, tamping, and watering until the soil is at the base of the tree. This area is not always clear, but most fruit trees have a crown that is a bulbous part of the stem. You don’t want to cover this with soil.

Step 3: Water

Water is necessary for a tree’s roots to develop and absorb nutrients from the soil. Upon establishment, a new fruit tree will need ten gallons of water/day depending on temperatures, rainfall and wind. If the leaves appear wilty, then apply water at a slower drip for a longer duration of time. The evening is the best time to water, giving the tree enough time to absorb the water before the heat of the day.

Step 4: Establish a guild!

See this blog post to learn more about selecting beneficial plants to accompany your tree.