Tree FruitsTree Fruits
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Delicious harvestDelicious harvest
Beauty in several Beauty in several seasons – seasons –
attractive attractive flowers, form, flowers, form, fruitsfruits
Growing surprisingly Growing surprisingly easyeasy
CHOOSING A SITE CHOOSING A SITE
Very well drained soilVery well drained soil
Full sun Full sun
Some protection from Some protection from strong windsstrong winds
Slight slope for drainageSlight slope for drainage
Fertile soil with no competition from weeds, power Fertile soil with no competition from weeds, power lines, rocks, other treeslines, rocks, other trees
PlantingPlanting
Bare root - prune broken Bare root - prune broken rootsroots
Potted - remove from pot, Potted - remove from pot, clip circling rootsclip circling roots
Dig hole two to three times Dig hole two to three times width of roots or soil ballwidth of roots or soil ball
Gently slope sides of holeGently slope sides of hole
PlantingPlanting
Plant tree at same depth as in Plant tree at same depth as in nursery or containernursery or container
Place graft at least six inches Place graft at least six inches above soil to allow for above soil to allow for settlingsettling
Place root ball on slight Place root ball on slight pedestal of undisturbed soil, pedestal of undisturbed soil, up to 1/3 above grade if soil up to 1/3 above grade if soil is wetis wet
PlantingPlanting
Backfill hole with same soil that was Backfill hole with same soil that was removed removed
Don’t amend soilDon’t amend soil
PlantingPlanting
Build 3-4" high soil dike around root Build 3-4" high soil dike around root ball to retain waterball to retain water
Mulch with 3-5" of organic mulch, Mulch with 3-5" of organic mulch, keeping it at least 2" from trunkkeeping it at least 2" from trunk
Water wellWater well
Tree paintTree paint
Paint trunk up to second Paint trunk up to second branch or bud with branch or bud with white latex paint, white latex paint, diluted 50-50 with diluted 50-50 with waterwater
Prevents sunscald Prevents sunscald By the time the paint By the time the paint
flakes off, bark strong flakes off, bark strong enough to withstand enough to withstand full strength of sunfull strength of sun
WateringWatering
Water is key to stimulating new roots Water is key to stimulating new roots to replace those lost when dug to replace those lost when dug
After planting, water well to get rid of After planting, water well to get rid of air pockets air pockets
WateringWateringIf rain not plentiful, must provide irrigationIf rain not plentiful, must provide irrigation
inch of water every week to ten daysinch of water every week to ten days
rain gauge rain gauge
Don’t overwater - tender roots easily drownDon’t overwater - tender roots easily drown
Long, deep, infrequent watering encourages Long, deep, infrequent watering encourages deeper rootingdeeper rooting
FertilizingFertilizing
Don’t fertilize newly planted treeDon’t fertilize newly planted tree
In subsequent years, in early spring give In subsequent years, in early spring give tree 1/4 to 1/2 pound of fertilizer per year tree 1/4 to 1/2 pound of fertilizer per year of age (to a maximum of ten pounds)of age (to a maximum of ten pounds)
If prune heavily in dormant season, this acts If prune heavily in dormant season, this acts as stimulus, so don’t fertilize that year.as stimulus, so don’t fertilize that year.
MulchMulch3-4 inches organic mulch 3-4 inches organic mulch
protects plant rootsprotects plant rootsprevents evaporationprevents evaporationmoderates soil temperaturesmoderates soil temperatureskeeps weeds downkeeps weeds down
Organic mulch feeds treeOrganic mulch feeds tree
compost, rotted sawdust, pine needles, oak leaves, compost, rotted sawdust, pine needles, oak leaves, clean straw, shredded barkclean straw, shredded bark
MulchMulch
Pull mulch back two feet from trunk Pull mulch back two feet from trunk before winter to keep rodents from before winter to keep rodents from damaging tender barkdamaging tender bark
Pests and diseasesPests and diseases
Good cultural practices will keep plants healthy and Good cultural practices will keep plants healthy and reduce stressreduce stress
regular watering and fertilizingregular watering and fertilizingremove all fallen fruits and leavesremove all fallen fruits and leavesremove weeds that may harbor pests in fall remove weeds that may harbor pests in fall Prune to improve air circulationPrune to improve air circulationremove insects by hand or strong spray of waterremove insects by hand or strong spray of waterremove diseased branches or leaves and dispose of remove diseased branches or leaves and dispose of
themthemuse barriers and trapsuse barriers and traps
Pests and diseasesPests and diseases
Disease-resistant plantsDisease-resistant plants
Encourage predatorsEncourage predators One of best defenses in orchard – One of best defenses in orchard –
dormant oil spray before or just as buds dormant oil spray before or just as buds swellswell
Controls many different insectsControls many different insectsEvidence that it helps control some fungal diseasesEvidence that it helps control some fungal diseases
Cultivar SelectionCultivar Selection
AdaptationAdaptationCold hardinessCold hardinessHeat toleranceHeat toleranceFrost toleranceFrost toleranceDays to fruit maturityDays to fruit maturityDate of bloom (frost avoidance)Date of bloom (frost avoidance)Disease, insect resistanceDisease, insect resistance
Cultivar SelectionCultivar Selection
Match cultivar to siteMatch cultivar to site
Adaptation to soil typeAdaptation to soil type
Cultivar SelectionCultivar Selection
Intended UseIntended UseHome useHome use
Pick-Your-Own salesPick-Your-Own sales
Retail salesRetail sales
Wholesale sales Wholesale sales
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