Chapter 7: Synopsis- Fruit Tree Basics

• If you are unable to plant the tree as soon as you purchase it, you should ‘heel in’ by digging through a 45 degree angle deep enough to hold the tree’s roots. Place the fruit-bearer to be in a trench and cover the roots with soil. The idea is to allow the roots to remain moist and not dry out.

• Soak the area designated to planting the tree a day prior to your planting schedule.

• Dig a hold big enough to have sufficient space around after placing the tree inside that allows enough room for the roots to spread. It is preferred to dig a slightly bigger dimension that exceeds the cluster.

• If moles and gophers and pests are a problem in your region, you can use a basket made from chicken wire and line the pin on its sides and bottom.

• If your fruit tree has been grafted to dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks you will need to stake it. Use a sturdy wooden stick and insert it in the earth at a position where it can support the trees first limb, just below the joint at the edges. Use strings or strips of cloth or fasten the tree with a loose knot.

• Apples and pears need to be pruned in a different way than peaches and other stone fruits. Prior to pruning your fruit trees make sure you are aware of where the tree produces flowers and how to prune to encourage flower production.

• Incorrect pruning, over fertilizing, lack of proper pollination, frost are reasons most people complain that their fruit tree does not yield any produce, or produces very little fruit every alternate year. Temperatures below 29 degrees F will prevent fruit formation.

• Plant fruits and vegetable which are adaptable to your area or region. There are also differences in varieties, check with the local nursery or local extension office for more information on blooming varieties and frost hardy fruits.

• Protect the newly planted sapling from rabbits, chickens, puppies, and kids by giving it a 24” band of hardwired cloth, chicken wire or prefabricated tubing.

• Keep the soil around the fruit tree well maintained at least for a few years, by getting rid of unwanted weed and grass, these weeds and grass will compete with the new sapling for nutrients. Use mulch to keep away weed eaters and mowers at bay. Bark damages are the main causes of death of miniature plants.

• Fertilizer applications should be made during the spring season (February to March). Fertilizers should be in an even way sprayed on the soil surface.

• Appropriate pruning, fertilization, and irrigation are the soil’s foundation to build healthier and abundant fruit bearing trees.