GENERAL CARE FOR DECIDUOUS FRUIT TREES
Deciduous fruit trees (including dwarf varieties) are normally sold in winter when they are dormant as this is an ideal time to dig them and they can be shipped bare-rooted ie without a pot or ball of soil. Bare rooted trees are an ideal way of transporting items that would normally be too heavy and
bulky, during a time when there is very little stress or damage to the plant. Quality fruit trees are grown for two years from a planted or
grafted tree, so plants are between 1 metre and 1.8 metres tall with a number of branches.
When Your Plants Arrive: Undo the parcel carefully and place the roots in tepid water and soak overnight or at the very
least, a few hours. Inspect the roots thoroughly and if there are any that are ragged or broken, trim them with a sharp pair of
clean secateurs. If there is more than one plant to trim, dip secateurs in a solution of bleach and water, or
methylated spirits or the like to disinfect them before using them on the different plants. Plant the following day; do not let the roots dry out. If the plants arrive in advance of your desired planting
time they should be heeled-in.
Heeling-in: To keep bare rooted
trees longer than a few days they should be “heeled-in”. Select an open space in the garden, dig one large hole and plant
all your bundled bare rooted trees in it and firm down soil. Water in well. They will keep for several weeks if kept watered.
Alternatively, plants can be placed into moist potting mix or potted up until a permanent place is ready for the plant.
*NOTE: IT IS MOST IMPORTANT NOT TO LET THE ROOTS DRY OUT AT ANY STAGE OF PLANTING.
Planting: The ideal time for planting bare root trees is during the winter months. Please note, generous watering will
be necessary for the first few months until the plants have grown sufficient roots to sustain the foliage. If normal winter/spring rains are light make sure plants receive supplementary watering - this may mean a bucket of water per day every
day until the plant has grown foliage. Check the moisture level around the roots to ascertain if this is required. It should
be moist, but not wet at all times. The proposed bed should have been dug over many times prior to planting ready for the
plants. A thorough cultivation at the time of planting is a bare minimum. Dig a hole twice as wide as would be necessary
to take the roots, and a little deeper, then lightly fill some of the hole in, leaving a mound on which to spread out the
roots, which should be placed down and outwards over the small mound at the bottom of the hole. Cover with soil and
firm down moderately. Water in well. The bud graft or bud union (if evident) should remain approximately 5cm above soil. If
planting in an area with clay soils, be sure not to dig into the clay, rather build up the garden bed with topsoil, as clay will
not allow water to drain away, and will result in the tree roots ‘drowning’.
Once the roots are arranged and settled, cover with soil and firm gently. Make a small depression around the tree to stop the water running away, or alternatively use a tree surround to create a well for the water to stay within proximity to the roots. Water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.
Pruning: Prune trees by about half when planting to encourage vigorous and compact growth. This will encourage a well shaped tree, and also allow the roots and branches a chance to balance up from when they were dug from their original growing spot. Always prune to an outside facing bud, to encourage the tree to develop a lovely shape. In subsequent years prune in winter to a vase shape, this will encourage flowers and fruit.
Watering: For optimum fruit production trees must to be kept well watered, especially when fruit is forming and ripening. Do not let roots dry out even in their dormant period.
Fertilising: Care must be taken at planting time with the
addition of fertilisers, as this may burn the roots. However, the addition of slow release fertiliser in a planting tablet form is
beneficial. Otherwise fertilise once the plant has its full foliage. An annual application of fertiliser is essential to assist fruit production.
Dislikes: Heavy or water logged soil.
Pests: Leaf Curl, Fruit Flies and Codling Moth, can be controlled with fungicides or insecticides as required.
Tips: Protect from the wind and frost when young. Keep the area underneath the tree free of grass and weeds, mulch well area but keep away from the trunk to avoid collar rot. Fluctuating temperatures can cause problems with the pollination of fruit.
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