How to Plant & Prune Bare Root Peach Trees

Plant a bare-root peach tree during the winter season.

A variety of peach trees can grow readily in U. S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, although many peach trees do best in the warmer climates of zones 8 and 9. Plant the bare-root peach tree during the winter, while the tree is dormant, so it can acclimate to its new growing location.

Things You'll Need

• Rototiller or garden spade
• Bucket
• Shovel
• Pruning shears
• Organic mulch -- wood chips or compost

Instructions

1. Select a planting location with full sun and good drainage. Work the soil in the planting area with a rototiller or garden spade down to a depth of 8 to 10 inches.

2. Unwrap the roots of the peach tree right away after purchasing it or having it delivered. Make sure the roots appear moist. Do not plant a peach tree with dry roots -- it will likely die. Soak the roots in a bucket of cool water for two to four hours before planting.

3. Dig a hole for the peach tree that is deep and wide enough to allow the roots to spread without bending in the hole. Make the hole deep enough for the tree's graft union -- a bump on the main stem above the roots -- will sit just above the soil level.

4. Place the tree in the hole. Hold it at the proper height with one hand while using the other hand to fill the hole with soil. Continue filling the hole, then tamp the soil down firmly.

5. Water the newly planted peach tree immediately, saturating the soil evenly.

6. Prune the tree immediately after planting to encourage proper growth. If the tree trunk's diameter is less than 3/8 inch, cut back the trunk to a height of 18 to 24 inches above soil level to encourage proper branch growth. There will be no additional branches on a tree of this size -- they will begin growing after planting.

   If the tree trunk has a diameter of 1/2 inch or more, leave three to five branches -- scaffold stems -- that face north, south, east and west (known as the cardinal directiosn). Trim about 3 inches from each stem to encourage growth.

7. Place 4 inches of organic mulch over the soil. Keep the mulch approximately 4 inches away from the tree and spread it out in a 2-foot radius.

8. Watch for new growth on the peach tree during the first growing season. If you removed all but the central stem, allow three to five scaffold stems to grow in the cardinal directions. As the tree grows throughout the summer, remove any new growth to keep only the three to five scaffold stems growing vigorously.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Training and Pruning Florida Peaches, Nectarines and Plums
• University of Minnesota Extension: Stone Fruits for Minnesota Gardens