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Planting
Fruit Trees | Rejuvenating
Fruit Trees
Planting
and Care of Fruit Trees
In order to assure
the successful establishment of fruit trees in the home
garden, there are a number of important steps which must
be followed.
Purchasing
Trees
Buy only trees from a reputable source which have been properly
stored and displayed. Avoid small caliper trees, or trees
with obvious abrasions, broken branches, or show signs of
being dried out. The number of branches is unimportant,
as most will be removed at planting. Take the tree home
immediately and store it in a cool, shaded location. Water
the roots, but do not soak the tree in water. A tree may
be stored several days in this manner.
Planting
Choose a well-drained location away from any high traffic
areas, or any area where it may interfere with snow removal.
Dig a hole with a shovel sufficiently large to accommodate
all the roots without bending. Place the tree in the hole
with the graft union about three inches above the soil surface.
Fill in around the tree, placing the best soil in contact
with the roots. Compact the soil as the hole is filled to
ensure good soil-root contact. Now water the tree with at
least five gallons of water, then water again. Water every
two to three days in dry seasons.
Pruning
Fruit trees will not prosper and may die if not cut back
severely at planting. Cut back the tree to about 24"-30"
above the soil surface. Remove all but three or four well-spaced
branches, which will become permanent limbs. Cut these remaining
limbs back by about one-third.
In following
years remove any branches competing with the top, and trim
the tree in the shape of a Christmas tree, with strong branches
in the bottom, and progressively smaller ones towards the
top. Remove any branches that exceed one-half the diameter
of the trunk at their point of attachment, as these will
restrict the growth of the trunk.
Fertilizer
and Weed Control
Do not put any fertilizer in the planting hole. Evenly spread
about 4 oz of a balanced fertilizer, such as 17-17-17, in
a circular pattern around the tree after planting. Keep
the area within three feet of the tree clean of weeds and
grass by hoeing or mulching. Mulching will also help preserve
water and supply some nutrients.
Trunk Protection
Wrap the lower 24" of trunk with a plastic tree guard
or screen mesh each fall to avoid rodent damage. Remove
this covering each spring to avoid bark diseases from becoming
established under the covering.
Pest Control
Refer to Home Garden Spray Schedule previously published
by the former Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and
Marketing for products and recommendations, or visit your
local garden centre.
For more information see Planting and Care of the Young Apple Orchard
Visit AgraPoint to find production guides, fact sheets and more for a number of crops including Tree Fruits.
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