It is best to plant bare-root trees immediately. If this is not possible because of bad weather or the ground is frozen un-pack the trees and place them on the ground in an un-heated frost-free shed or garage, and cover the roots with soil or compost. See our instructions on heeling-in for more details.. Never keep fruit trees indoors in a heated house.
We recommend you dig over the planting area well in advance, loosen the soil and allow it to settle. However do not dig planting holes in advance.
Dip the roots in a bucket of water for about 1-2 hours just before planting.
Do NOT add compost or fertilizer to the planting hole (unless you are planting on re-claimed building land).
Apply a bucket of water after planting.
Most fruit trees need to be supported with a cane or stake at the time of planting, but maiden trees on very vigorous "standard" or "seedling" rootstocks do not necessarily need supporting.
All 1-year maiden fruit trees benefit greatly from being cut back after planting. In most cases you will not need to do this yourself, because we will have already cut the trees to fit into the shipping carton. The process of cutting back the tree encourages new shoots to emerge in the spring and helps the tree establish better.
After planting, make sure you apply a mulch around the base of the tree, it is one of the best things you can do to help the tree get established, as it keeps weeds away and helps retain moisture.
If you have rabbits or other rodents or deer in the vicinity you must protect your new trees immediately. These animals will strip the bark from young fruit trees and the trees will then die. The best protection is a wire mesh around the stem of each tree, as this stops animal attacks but allows air flow around the tree. Forestry-type spiral or tube guards can be used on a temporary basis, however they create an unhealthy microclimate around the graft union of the tree, and provide a shelter for insects, so we do not recommend them as a long-term protection.
During the first spring and summer after planting pay particular attention to watering your fruit trees.
Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, don't delay, please contact us immediately - do not wait until May or June to tell us something is not right. We would rather have a false alarm than be told of a problem too late to rectify it.