Hey fellow gardeners! We know there’s probably still some snow on your ground, as winter is hitting the U.S. pretty hard this year. But despite all the winter storms, snow and ice, we thought we’d brighten the mood with some talk of spring and what’s to come! Soon your gardens will be green, your flowers will be blooming, and your vegetables and fruits will be producing delicious treats.
So in the spirit of the coming spring, today we’re going to give you some basic instructions on planting fruit trees. Fruit trees can be planted in either fall or early spring, as soon as the ground frost has thawed
Step 1: Make sure your site is prepped and ready to go
Clear all weeds and grass away by killing them off the season prior, or by pulling them all out of the ground.
Step 2: Dig that hole
Make sure your soil is nice and pliable; not too wet or clumping together, and not too dry or sandy. The depth of the hole should be about 12” to 14”, depending on the size of your tree’s roots. Trees ordered from Gurney’s Seed & Nursery and most other nurseries come with a planting depth indicator on the stock.
Step 3: Plant the tree
Now it’s time for your tree to go in the ground. Place the stringy roots at the bottom of the hole, and make sure the roots are spread out and evenly distributed. Now, backfill the hole with a layer of the ground’s natural soil, then a layer of some leaf mold or compost, then another layer of the soil. Repeat this until the soil/compost mixture reaches the top of the planting indicator. Be sure not to pack the soil mixture too tightly, as you’ll want to allow room for the water to get down to the tree’s root system.
Now, water that tree! Slowly water the soil around the tree and watch as the soil settles. If it is a particularly windy or sunny day, feel free to put a layer of mulch around the tree to protect the planting.