How to Plant a Fruit Tree

Fruit trees (these are apple trees) are so pretty when they are in bloom. Plus as they get larger, they will add a nice shady spot for a seating area in the heat of summer.

I know this is an ugly picture of...dirt. But I want to show you how important it is to plant your fruit tree properly.

If I was to just put it in that hole and expect great things from my fruit tree, I will be pretty disappointed. Here's why....

Planting trees gives you ONE chance to make sure they get off to their very best. So dig your hole deep (like that first photo).

Then add lots of really well composted manure. Add some bonemeal or general fruit tree fertilizer too.

After the fruit tree is planted, the best you can do is top dress with compost every year. That's a good thing, but amending the hole BEFORE you plant is always the best way to go.

Mix the amendments well together and get ready to plant the tree. The picture above shows pretty much the Ideal height for planting, even though it doesn't look right at all!

Read more about how to figure out the correct planting depth as well as other details you will need to know to get your trees off to the very best start. Just come over to Country Living in a Cariboo Valley to read all about it.

The first apple tree after planting. This tree has had 4 different varieties of apples grafted to the original stock. We hope to be enjoying apples for decades to come.

The apple tree in bloom in it's second year in the ground. I think we bought 2 year old trees, so this tree is actually 4 years old.

It really is worth it if you can buy the oldest trees you can afford. Buying a 4 year old tree versus a 2 year old means earlier harvests. And larger harvests too!

One of our apple harvests. No chemical sprays, just honest to goodness healthy apples.

We love homemade Apple Crisp made from these beauties. We also store lots of apples in our cold room for eating right into winter.