Planting fruit trees step by step

In short

• The best time is early winter, from leaf fall until the ground freezes; on wet ground and in cold upland areas, plant in late winter or early spring.
• Roots must not dry out, not even for 15 minutes in sun and wind: keep them covered and damp.
• A hole 60–80 cm (2–2½ ft) wide, topsoil and subsoil kept apart; no fresh manure near the roots.
• The graft union stays 5–10 cm (2–4 in) above the soil once the ground has settled.
• The stake goes in before the tree, and the tree is tied loosely in a figure of eight.
• For the first two years, water 20–40 litres (5–10 gallons) once a week in dry spells.

What's inside

Chapters

1. When to plant
2. Before planting: soil and site
3. Pegging out: rows on the ground
4. The planting hole
5. Preparing the tree
6. Planting step by step
7. First pruning after planting
8. Protecting a young tree
9. The first year after planting
10. Special cases
11. Common mistakes
12. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Pegging-out plan
• Materials and water calculator
• Shopping list
• Calendar for planting and the first year
• Planting log