• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bees and Roses

Bees and Roses

Gardening ideas For Beginners. Gardening Tips. Gardening ideas. Get free gardening hacks from master gardener Jenny Wallentine.

  • All Things Garden
    • Useful Gardening Hints
    • Flowers
    • Trees
  • Outdoor Living
  • Landscaping
  • Plant Guide
    • Annuals
    • Perennials
    • Vegetables

13 Tips to Planting Successful Fruit Trees

October 2, 2015 by Jenny Leave a Comment

Imagine never having to buy apples from the store, you could simply walk outside and pick one out of your garden. Of course, planting (and then harvesting) fruit trees is a lot of hard work, and the trees have to mature before they are ready to bear fruit. Use these tips to ensure that your trees are set up for success the minute they are planted!

13 TIps to Planting Successful Fruit Trees

1. Evaluate The Climate

Like most plants, fruit trees thrive in specific environments. For example, citrus trees tend to thrive in warmer areas. Make sure that you check before planting to see which trees work best in your area.

13 Tips to Planting Succesful Fruit Trees

2. Consider Pollination

 In order for the trees to do more than just blossom, pollination is required. Usually, bees do the trick, but sometimes a self pollinating tree is the best option. Tree Hugger recommends planting apples, pears, and plums if you are interested in a self pollinating tree.

13 Tips to Planting Succesful Fruit Trees

3. Timing Is Everything

Much like the climate, the timing is everything when planting trees. Before planting, consult with your local nursery to find out the best time for planting. This is crucial, because a late frost can be detrimental to your tree’s health.

13 Tips to Planting Succesful Fruit Trees

4. Fertilization 

Starting from the time of planting, it is crucial to begin fertilizing your tree. Sunset recommends basing the fertilizing schedule on the growth of the tree. Also, use a fertilizer high in nitrogen at the beginning of the growth season, this will ensure that your tree stays healthy.

13 Tips to Planting Succesful Fruit Trees

5. Control Pests and Animals 

It is a no brainer that pests and diseases can cripple your trees. Sunset recommends using a dormant oil spray in the winter, this actually helps prevent issues with pest control in the spring and summer.

13 Tips to Planting Succesful Fruit Trees

6. Watering

 Newly planted trees need a lot of water. Water whenever the first two inches of the soil is dry. As soon as the root systems are developed, you can water less extensively.

13 Tips to Planting Succesful Fruit Trees

7. Paint the Tree Trunk

Mother Earth News recommends applying a coat of white latex paint. Cover the trunk, and stop just two inches below the first branch. This helps prevent sunscald and premature leafing.

13 TIps to Planting Successful Fruit Trees

8. Don’t Forget the Mulch

Surround the newly planted fruit tree with crushed rock, leaf mold, wood chips, or freshly cut grass. Make sure you water thoroughly afterwards.

13 TIps to Planting Successful Fruit Trees

9. Sun 

Dave Wilson claims that fruit trees thrive in the sun, so choose the sunniest area of your yard to plant the tree. There is one exception, if you live in an area where temperatures can exceed 114 degrees, it is better to plant the tree where it will receive some afternoon shade.

13 TIps to Planting Successful Fruit Trees

10. Planting Depth

The depth in which you plant your trees is crucial. It should be planted at the depth it was at the nursery. You should be able to determine this depth by the slight bark discoloration found on the trunk.

13 TIps to Planting Successful Fruit Trees

11. Space

You wouldn’t plant your vegetables right on top of each other, so don’t do it to your fruit trees. Leave about 8 feet of room between trees. Tip from Bless My Weeds. 

13 TIps to Planting Successful Fruit Trees

12. Digging The Hole

This may be the hardest part of the planting process, labor wise anyway! Make sure that the whole is wide enough to cover the entire root system. Trees are more prone to getting sick when the tree roots are bent in the hole.

Digging With Red Boots

13. Stakes

This isn’t necessary for all trees, but if you live in a windy area or are worried about the trunk growing straight, consider staking down your tree. Make sure it is staked down evenly to prevent uneven tree growth.

13 TIps to Planting Successful Fruit Trees

Filed Under: All Things Garden, Landscaping, Useful Gardening Hints, Outdoor DIY Tagged With: tips and tricks, gardening, fruit trees, useful hints

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Jenny

Hi, I’m Jenny Wallentine, a Certified Master Gardener, and lover of all things outdoors! My mission with beesandroses.com is to help you find useful, practical solutions to all of your gardening challenges--and help you love it as much as I do. I’ve come across many helpful tips and tricks to make gardening more enjoyable and more productive. You can learn how to layout your garden for a better yield, use a variety of natural pest controls, the “ins and outs” of organic gardening, and much more.

Sign Up!

**Posts may contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links

25 Year Performance Warranty

  • Privacy Policy
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter