This morning it rained 1.3" so once again everything was soaked. What to do with such soft ground? Plant trees. So I planted 3 peach trees, 2 pear trees, and 2 plum trees. I still would like to get some apple trees planted this winter but I haven't found any that were good enough looking to invest in. Eventually, we would like to have our own full fledge fruit orchard including grapes, oranges, raspberries, blueberries, and who knows what else.
I am by no means a tree planting pro but I felt that maybe some people may not know how to go about planting a tree. So this post I will do my best to explain it to those who may need a little assistance. I'm sure that the saying "there is more than one way to skin a cat" applies to tree planting, so if you have any good info please feel free to give it.
First, place the tree in its pot on the ground and cut a hole bigger than the top diameter of the pot.
Once you have the outline cut, remove the circle patch of grass and clean out the hole to where the dirt in the pot will be flush with the top of the ground. 
Then once the hole is cleaned out, take a pair of post hole diggers and dig a hole in the hole about 12-18" deep. This is to assist the tap root in developing without making it have to fight through the tough ground. Our ground has a lot of clay so it is very hard.
Then fill the hole you dug with the post hole diggers with a top soil compost mix.
Add compost to the dirt you intend to put back into the hole. Take the root ball out of the pot and place the tree into the hole. Put the compost dirt mix around the root ball but do not over fill the hole covering the tree too much. Only cover up to where the tree was originally in the pot.
Pack lightly, then form the excess dirt in a ring pattern around the filled hole. Stake the tree on two sides and tie with string loosely. Do not tie the string tightly around the trunk and do not tie the string too tightly to the stake. It should have a little give. If you can play a note like a guitar on the string, loosen. Water and enjoy your work.
Pear Trees
Plum Trees
Blackberry Plants
5 comments:
AWESOME!!
Um...where is the Honeycrisp tree?
You need one of those.
I need you to need one of those.
sis
Your trees look great, and your instuctions were oh so easy to follow!! I can't wait to try some of the firat crop, if thats what you call it, and I call dibbs on the fifth piece of blackberry cobbler!! (y'all of course getting the first four pieces)
David
Heather, How funny! Of course we are totally thinking about you and your undying love for Honeycrisps.....silly girl! I am actually saving some seeds right now and drying them. I wanted to see if I could grow my very own tree from a seed. And what better fruit than Honeycrisps.
The only problem is Jesus will probably come back before we actually get to tastes this deliciousness!
Okay, how old are those trees. I purchased trees that look to be about the same size: Peach, pear, plum. All full size trees. I also just got a fig for 4.85 at Home Depot (last week!) if you wanted some. Anyways how old are they? Tell Lyns my peach is a bloom. When should I expect fruit...2-3 years?
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