Fruit Tree Guide

Growing fruit trees is both easy and rewarding. Sunset Nursery specially selects fruit trees for quality and winter hardiness to our area. This guide is designed to take the mystery out of growing fruit, helping to ensure your success.

Spacing Fruit Trees

Fruit trees need to be spaced properly to allow sufficient light for even ripening, permit good air circulation around trees to reduce disease problems and eliminate growth competition between trees.? The number of trees in a given area can be increased by using grafted trees on dwarfing rootstocks. Standard size trees are very large and are not recommended for city lots. Semi-dwarf trees are 60% of standard size while dwarf trees are 40% of standard size. The following chart may help:

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Pollination

Many fruit varieties do not accept their own pollen readily and therefore require another variety of the same fruit to enable it to bear fruit abundantly. Ask our staff for details.

NOTE: Pollinating trees should be planted NO further than 100? apart.

Ideal Location

Plant trees in a well-drained soil on a gently rolling South-East slope.

Planting Fruit Trees

Fruit trees need to be planted where they receive at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Pre-Planting Care

Many fruit trees are sold in pots. To ensure growing success, fruit trees need to be planted promptly after purchase. While digging the holes, trees should be kept moist and in the shade. Keep the soil in the pot moist until the tree is planted.

How to Plant

Dig a hole 1 ? times wider than the pot size and 18? ? 24? deep. Fruit trees should be planted without significantly disturbing the soil around the roots. DO NOT twist roots in the hole or use the graft (lump on the bottom on trunk) as a guide for planting depth. All grafts are not the same height.

?The Planting mix should consist of 2 parts well-drained garden loam and 1 part peat moss and a cup or two of bone meal. Once thoroughly mixed, fill the bottom of the hole with this mixture. Set the tree into the hole at the proper depth so that the soil in the pot is level with the grade surrounding the planting hole. Fill the remainder of the hole with the planting mix and firm in with your foot to remove air pockets. Build a soil saucer around the base of the trunk to hold the water and water again.

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Insect & Disease Control

Regular spraying is necessary to control insects and diseases. Spraying should begin in March or early April before the buds open. (See accompanying chart). Dormant oil is a natural mineral oil, which coats the branches and smothers any insects over-wintering on the bark. Lime Sulphur is sprayed on to control over-wintering diseases and mites. For optimum fruit quality, subsequent spraying should occur every 10-14 days following the spray chart on last page. Insects tend to be most prevalent during periods of rapid growth ie. Spring. Diseases are worst during periods of prolonged wet weather. Trees should not be sprayed during the blossom period, as this will kill the bees, which pollinate the trees. For further tips on spraying, consult the spray chart.

Winter Protection

All trees and especially trees adjacent the fields of long grass re prone to rodent injury. Plastic tree guards are an inexpensive way of protecting your trees against rodent injury. Their light colour also helps to distribute winter sun heat evenly around the trunk to prevent winter splitting of the bark. The best protection against winter is a well-cared for healthy tree. Always rake up and remove all fruit and leaves from under fruit trees before snowfall.

Bird Protection

For the homeowner, the easiest way to prevent the birds from eating your prize crop is to cover the entire tree with plastic garden netting at harvest time. These are available in large sheets.

Pruning Fruit Trees

Fruit trees require regular pruning to help improve the yield and quality of the fruit. The goal is to keep fruit trees open in the center, and low in height to facilitate spraying and picking. Ask our experts for more details.

Conclusion

Growing your own fruit trees can be a rewarding experience. With a little attention and care, your fruit trees will serve you well for many years. Nothing beats the taste of a bite of your own home-grown fruit.

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