How to Plant a Pear Tree in the Summer

Pear trees come in both edible fruit-bearing and ornamental non-bearing. Both lend themselves to landscape specimens as their profuse spring blooms cover the trees branches in a dense blanket of small white flowers. While the ideal planting seasons are spring or fall, pear trees may also be planted in summer if care is taken to prepare soil properly and adequate water requirements are met until the tree settles in to its new home.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Planter's mix or potting soil
• Wheelbarrow or large mixing container
• Fertilizer
• Water source

Instructions

1. Decide the type of pear tree that would be best for your particular preference. When choosing, take into consideration whether you want edible fruit harvests. If a harvest of pears at the end of growing seasons is your goal, look for names like Bartlett, Bosc and Comice. If an ornamental tree is your end goal, choose the non-fruit-bearing pear known as Bradford.

2. Choose an adequate planting spot in your landscape. Not only is this important aesthetically, but it is necessary to choose a place that receives full sun and will not pose a space issue as your pear tree grows to maturity. Take into consideration the height and circumference of the canopy at full growth in relation to other landscape plantings, structures and overhead wires.

3. Dig the planting hole. Shovel the dirt from the chosen planting spot into the wheelbarrow or large container, making sure that the finished hole extends a foot wider than each side of the root ball. It is important not to plant too deep as the crown (the base of the trunk where it stems from the surface of the original planting material) needs to be at or slightly above ground level. The depth of the hole should measure as deep as the original container packaging. A tape measure or yard stick will assist in this task.

4. Amend the soil dug from the hole. When the dimensions of the planting hole are done to your liking, take a portion of the planters mix (a mix of organic matter and potting soil used by landscapers and gardeners to enrich and lighten the texture of soil) or potting soil to equal the amount of hole dirt. Mix thoroughly until the dirt is a loose, friable texture. Now is a good time to add fertilizer (in the amounts recommended by the accompanying grower label for your chosen tree) into the new mix as well.

5. Remove the tree from its container or root wrapping and place into the hole. If the crown is even with the surrounding ground begin to back fill. If the hole is too deep, shovel some of the mix into the bottom of the hole and retest. Repeat until the crown is even or just slightly above ground level and the tree stands straight. Back fill with the remaining dirt; once the hole is refilled completely, tamp down around the new soil. Add more soil to bring the surface of the new dirt even with the surrounding ground. Water thoroughly to saturate the soil to assist in settling the tree in its new home.

Tips & Warnings

• The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension specifies that edible-fruit-bearing pear trees must be planted near another edible-fruit-bearing pear tree in order to cross-pollinate and bear fruit.

References

• Rain Tree Nursery: Pears
• UTK Agricultural Extension: Fruits and Nuts-Home Tree Fruit Plan