Plant your new fruit trees like the professionals do at our nursery! By using the correct planting techniques, you are setting your new trees up for their greatest success.
Tree Installation procedure:
1. CHOOSING WHERE TO PLANT - For most trees, choose a location a minimum of 15 feet from any other trees, structures, driveways, etc. & 8 feet away from fences.
2. PREPARING THE GROUND - Remove all the grass/sod in a 6 foot diameter surrounding your tree location.
3. DIGGING THE HOLE - Dig a hole about as deep as the pot the tree is in, and 1.5x as wide. Carefully remove your tree from the pot.
4. PLANT ABOVE GRADE - Place your tree in the hole to check depth. Backfill as needed until the base of your tree sits about 2 inches above the ground level. (This is important!)
5. DON’T ADD ANYTHING TO THE HOLE - Place your tree in the hole, and use only the native soil/sand to backfill the hole. Do NOT add compost, manure, topsoil, fertilizer, etc. to the hole!
6. STOMP IT DOWN - After you’ve backfilled, check that your tree is sitting upright, then stomp around the edge of the hole to press the soil down and remove any air pockets.
7. PITCHER’S MOUND - Your tree should be slightly elevated on a tapered mound. Use a rake to smooth out the soil.
At this point, you may add compost, manure, and/or organic fertilizer.
We recommend using HARMONY 5-4-3 organic fertilizer and AZOMITE organic trace minerals and offer it for sale.
8. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP - Apply a GENEROUS layer of mulch over the entire soil area, 4 to 6 inches deep.
Be careful not to pile mulch against the trunk of the tree, it should only be covering the soil & roots!
If your tree is starting to develop “crown roots”, leave these exposed.
9. WATERING - Use a hose to water in your tree. Spend about 5 minutes completely soaking the entire planting area, making sure that the water penetrates deep into the soil.
10. HELP YOUR TREE SETTLE IN - After planting, for the first 2-3 months your tree will enjoy being watered deeply twice per week. After new growth appears and has hardened off, you may reduce watering frequency. Once the tree is established, watering is only necessary in drought periods. Be sure to periodically top off the mulch, and remove weeds & grass as they appear.
Watch as we plant a fruit tree using this exact method!