Young Fruit Trees Guide
Tree planting and tree care is essential to sustaining a bountiful urban orchard and can be a tasty addition to your garden! With the proper care, fruit trees can produce a ton of delicious fruit for you and your community. The flower blossoms of these trees are a bonus and makes your environment so much more enjoyable to look at. White and pink blossoms are quite common in apple trees in the spring and are quite beautiful. We’ve gathered some helpful tips to help you get through the planting and care stages for your young fruit trees below.
Choosing an Optimal Site
Generally, before you plant your tree ensure that the area you are choosing is getting enough sunlight and has good soil. If the soil is too wet it may damage your tree reducing your chances for fruit significantly. Below we suggest the ideal environment for each fruit tree:
Apples
Apple trees can grow well in a wide range of temperatures, however if the minimum air temperature goes below -30°C it can harm the tree. This fruit tree needs 6-8 hours of sunlight for optimal growth. The best side to plant them is a north facing slope as this reduces the chance that the next freeze will kill. The soil should be well-drained yet hold some moisture so we suggest low to medium textured soil. Keep apple trees away from wooded areas as pests and diseases can be contracted.
Grapes
Grapes like slightly more acidic soil to really thrive. A pH level of 5.0 to 6.0 is ideal and is suggested that if the soil has a neutral pH to use ground sulfur to lower it to the ideal pH. Loose, well-drained soil is important for root development. Look for higher ground on your land to plant grapes as it will provide better water and air circulation.
Quince
Quince trees like more moist soils throughout the hot summers, but well-drained soils in the winter. Light chalky soils should provide your quince with plenty of organic matter added before planting. They also prefer a sunny location for optimal growth.
Plums
Plums grow best in loam type soils, please avoid clay soils when planting them. They enjoy a soil pH of 5.0 to 6.5 which is more acidic to neutral. Try to stay away from high moisture soils, plums prefer well drained soils.
Serviceberry
Serviceberries grow best in well-drained soils, try to stay within the loam soils (sandy/silt). Most varieties are adapted to cold weather (up to -50 degrees C) which is perfect for Canada. Serviceberries prefer a pH level of 6.0 to 7.0, so more neutral compared to other fruit.
Sweet Cherries
A pH of 6.5 is ideal for sweet cherries. Do not compact the soil for sweet cherries as it can accelerate root rot. They prefer light soil and a site that is sunny and gets good air circulation.
Spring is the best time to plant your fruit trees! In general when you are planting a fruit tree you want the hole to be twice the size of its root ball. However, you do not want it too deep, a good measurement is to look at the base of the tree and make sure that is as far as the soil goes. When buying your young tree make sure that the tree hasn’t flowered. Trees are best planted when they are in the dormant stage. Ensure the the surrounding area of the hole has been removed of any grass for a couple of feet to reduce competition for nutrients. A post to support your young tree is ideal and should be put in the ground. Loosely tie the young tree to the post for support against the wind. Finally, stamp the loose soil down to compact it with your feet.
Care
Make sure your tree is getting enough water. It is recommended that young fruit trees are watered at least twice a week. How much water? Generally you want to use enough water equal to 3 buckets for each tree every time you water it. When watering your youngins make sure to water them slowly so you do not drown them.
Hungry Youngins
Image source: https://www.theorchardproject.org.uk/events/pruning-workshop-wassail-south-london/agnes-riley-mulch-1/
Trees get hungry too, especially young trees which need enough nutrients to grow and bear those beautiful fruits. We use mulch to help the soil retain its moisture, reduce weed growth and other plants like grass that compete for nutrients. Mulch is a layer of material that is spread evenly over the soil that surrounds the tree. Each spring make sure to mulch at least 1 inch to feed your little trees. Different types of trees require different mulches.
Apple, pears, cherries, plums and peaches.
These types of trees should be mulched with 6 to 8 inches of hay or straw in May. The mulch should be reapplied throughout the season and removed from trees at the end of the summer or early September.
Grapes.
Grapes don’t usually need any mulch because they have a root system that is quite deep. Mulching for grapes is usually used to control weed growth.
Raspberries.
Raspberries use hay or straw for their mulch because it is beneficial when used around new plants. We do not recommend routine application of mulch after the first year.
Make sure to prune your young trees to give them a strong structure to hold and produce fruit. In general you always want to remove any dead or broken branches. Different fruit trees require different pruning techniques when they are young:
Apple
An apple tree should have a one trunk (leader). Maintaining a narrow top and wide bottom allows maximum sunlight interception and penetration into the tree canopy. A tree stake not only helps support the tree, it also aids in shaping the tree. A good structural is a christmas tree or pyramid shape.
Apricot
Keep solid branches that grow more outward than upwards before you start pruning. These branches are said to have a wider and have a sturdier look compared to the other branches. Cut off any branches that are too close to the ground (18 inches and below). The central leader should be about 36 inches. Remove branches and ensure equal spacing of 6 inches apart for sunlight.
Sweet Cherry
Year old sweet cherry trees usually have several sidebranches. Select four branches that are evenly spaced, the lowest branch should be at least 50cm above ground. Remove any branches below this. Cut the main shoot to be just above the top branch. Then shorten your four chosen branches by 2/3. Cut all the way back to a bud pointing in the direction you want the new branch to grow.
Plum
Prune young plum trees in the spring so the tree is not affected by silver leaf disease. Follow a vase shape to get a shorter trunk with about 3-4 main branches to come off of the trunk at 45-degrees. This promotes more light and aeration for the tree. Always use clean and sharp pruning shears when you prune.The central leader branch should be pruned back 2 feet above ground level for young trees. Make sure you cut just above a bud. Be sure that you have at least three buds below.
Grapes
If the grapevine is still in its first year make sure to remove all fruit and any shoots growing next to it. Use twine to tie your vine to the stake. There will be minimal pruning for young grapevines. In the first year new growth may go to the top wire ( 5 to 5½ feet). If this happens, pinch the ends of the shoots off at the top wire to force lateral growth along the top wire.
Serviceberry
Serviceberries need to be pruned annually. Late winter to early spring is best for pruning. Inspect and get rid of any deadwood, diseased wood and crossed branches. To maintain a tree structure and shape, prune out the root suckers as they will appear each year. Prune the tree right after it flowers (April through June). Make sure to prune before July hits because that’s when the plant grows the next year’s buds.
Keep it Clean
To prevent diseases from spreading make sure you get rid of any infected branches and limbs from the area completely.
If you’ve followed all these steps then your little fruit tree should be well on its way to produce plenty of delicious fruits!
For more resources:
Growing Apple Trees https://orchardpeople.com/growing-apple-trees-the-easy-way/
Mulch https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/?cid=nrcs143_023585
Grapes https://grapes.extension.org/vineyard-site-selection/
Quince https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/quinces
Serviceberry https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/BUL/BUL0866.pdf