Planting fruit trees in your own garden is much better than looking longingly at the cherries on the neighbour's tree. We have listed some of the most important rules to be followed so that your tree can flourish:
The right planting time
Fruit trees can be planted between autumn and spring, although species which need a great deal of warmth (apricot or peach trees) should not be planted until after the winter.
Preparing the young tree
The roots of the young tree should preferably stand in water overnight in order to compensate any loss of moisture. Damaged or rotten roots should be cut off.
Preparing the ground
First of all, dig up a spade-deep area measuring approx. 2 m2. If the soil is hard and compressed, the ground must be dug to a depth of twice the spade and the soil piled up around the planting hole. Then loosen the soil at the bottom of the planting hole with your spade.
Around 200 g fertilizer (Thomas meal phosphate or potash) must be incorporated into the loosened or excavated soil, together with compost, short dung or bark humus. The tree must be planted while the prepared soil is still moist. If necessary, it must be covered and moistened until the tree is planted.
Planting
It is best to plant the young tree with the aid of a second person.
Dig a hole approx. 40 - 50 cm deep in the soil prepared as described above. The roots must have sufficient space in all directions (do not bend the roots). The tree must not stand deeper than it was in the nursery. The knotty graft (if visible) must be roughly a hand's width above the ground.
A post to support the young tree should now be embedded in the ground. Then stand the tree upright and have your assistant hold it while you backfill the excavated soil. Carefully shake or lift the tree a little from time to time to get rid of any cavities between the roots. Finally, stamp the soil down with your feet and water the tree copiously (even in wet weather!).
If you have set up a supporting post (see above), the tree should only be tied to the post loosely in order to avoid tension if the tree settles slightly.
Important: watering
The young tree must be generously watered in the subsequent days and weeks. Covering the planting area with short straw, cut grass and mulched bark also helps to prevent the tree drying out. However, ensure that the mulch does not touch the trunk, otherwise the tree may be infected by pathogens.