How to Plant Bareroot Fruit Trees

Planting fruit trees is a great way to add a tasty and attractive addition to your garden. Ordering and planting fruit trees with bare root stock is a great way to get started. Bare root fruit trees are dug from the field and packaged for shipping after removing all of the soil from the root stock. Because there is a loss of root material during cleaning, trimming and packaging, special care should be given when planting.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shovel
• Stake
• Mulch
• Potting soil, sand or peat moss

Planting Your Tree

1. Protect your trees from damage prior to planting by "heeling in" the roots. Lay the trees on the ground and cover and pack the roots with moist soil, sand or peat moss. This can protect the roots for several weeks until the final planting site is prepared. Keep the roots moist, even during brief periods of exposure.during brief periods of exposure.

2. Soak the trees in water for up to 24 hours, to provide plenty of moisture when you are ready to plant them.

3. Select a site to plant your trees that provides adequate soil conditions, proper drainage and good exposure to sunlight and water.

4. Dig a hole for each tree that is at least 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Loosen the dirt on the sides and in the bottom of the hole.

5. Add any soil improvers, such as bone meal or phosphate, at this time and work it into the soil in the bottom of the hole.

6. Place the tree's root system into the hole and begin to back fill, first with subsoil, then with top soil. Align the tree trunk as you fill in the hole, ensuring that the trunk is straight.

7. Stake the tree, if necessary. Be sure to keep any strapping loose around the trunk.

8. Mound dirt up in a ring around the trunk to provide a depression to hold water. Cover the outside edge of the mound with mulch or straw. Water the tree in well. Water regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant your trees before any signs of budding occurs.

References

• Sandy Bar Ranch and Nursery