We were a little slow to put in our orchard. We started this in our third year of ownership. we did have one fully grown apple tree from previous owners but it needed to be renovated slowly although we did get apples from it.
Planning and research
First, check your growing zone. It’s no sense trying to grow something that doesn’t work in your area like lemons in the north although that would be great to have!
Find a reputable nursery to buy your plants from, either online or in person. Research what fruit or nuts grow in your area. We started with apples and pears. We have added plums, nectarines and hazelnuts to our orchard area.
Find the best place on your property to grow your trees and bushes. Orchards usually need full sun and enough room to have space between the trees. We chose to plant in the older traditional planting with about 8 to 12 feet between our trees. We wanted it for the look as well as for picking and having a wide range of fruit. Some people plant in long rows of trees close together but that is usually for commercial properties to make it easier to get mechanical pickers in the rows.
Planting
Now that you’ve decided on your fruit of choice and ordered and brought home your plants it’s time to plant. There are two ways most plants come to you. The first is in a pot. This plant can be put in the ground almost any time from spring to fall. The second is bare-root. These plants should be planted during their dormant period which is early spring or late fall.
Potted trees
For a potted plant dig a hole slightly deeper and about 2 times wider than the pot. Break up the native soil and release the plant from its container. Gently place the root ball into the hole and make sure the plant is at the same level that it was in the pot. If you need to add some soil back into the hole then do that. Now refill the hole with the native soil that you dug out previously. Water this in and then you can top this up with compost or good bagged soil and water this in again. Place a garden stake about 6 inches away and tie it loosely to the trunk of the tree.
Bare-root trees
If your plant is bare-root then place it in a bucket of water to rehydrate well as you dig the hole. Look at the plant and see where the roots spread out from the trunk. Make the hole big enough that all the roots can be spread out in all directions. It is best to build a small mound to place the roots around. Do not plant too deeply as you want the trunk just above the ground level. Now cover the roots with native soil and water well. Fill in with compost on top and water again.
I find it best to use your native soil so the roots have a reason to continue to grow out searching for nutrients and water. If you fill this hole with all the good soil the roots will curl around themselves and not try to spread out leaving the plant vulnerable to blowing over or strangling itself.
Mulching
You can now mulch around the tree to help keep weeds down and help the ground retain moisture. Just be sure to keep the mulch at least 6 inches away from the trunk of the tree. Keep the tree well-watered, at least 1 inch of water a week or more for the first year and during droughts in later years.
I’m always amazed each spring when the trees that look like dead sticks all winter start to break dormancy and leaf out in spring. What fruit trees are you planning to have in your orchard?
