A Little Bit About Fruit Trees

 

Planting Fruit Trees

 

The dormant season is an excellent time to plant many fruit trees in East Texas. Planting during the cooler months gives a newly planted tree time to begin establishing its root system before the heat and stress of summer arrive.

Fruit trees can be planted successfully at other times of the year, but cool-season planting generally makes establishment easier as long as the soil is workable and conditions are suitable.

 
 

Choose the Right Location

 

• Choose a location with the appropriate amount of sunlight for the type of fruit tree you’re planting. Most fruit trees perform best with plenty of direct sun.

• Good drainage is extremely important. Avoid low areas where water regularly collects or soil remains saturated after rain.

• Consider the tree’s mature size and spacing requirements before planting. Give it enough room to grow without crowding buildings, other trees, or utility lines.

 
 

Don’t Plant Too Deep

 

One of the most important things you can do when planting a fruit tree is avoid planting it too deeply.

Dig the planting hole wider than the root ball, but no deeper. The root flare should remain visible at the soil surface. In poorly drained or heavy clay soils, planting the root ball slightly above the surrounding grade can help improve drainage.

Backfill primarily with the existing soil rather than creating a heavily amended planting hole. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots, and add a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the root zone while keeping mulch pulled away from the trunk.

 
 

Pruning Your New Fruit Tree

 

Pruning and training recommendations depend on the type of fruit tree and the training system being used. Peaches and some other stone fruits are commonly trained to an open-center form, while apples and pears may use a central-leader or modified central-leader system.

Rather than automatically cutting every newly planted fruit tree the same way, determine what type of tree you have and how it should be trained before making major pruning cuts.

Read our Pruning Trees & Shrubs Series: Fruit Trees for more information.

 
 

Getting your fruit tree off to a good start begins with the right location, proper planting depth, good drainage, and the correct training for that particular tree.