July and August are the time of year that new-season trees and other plants begin to arrive in garden centres. 

For gardeners who’ve never planted a fruit tree they can be a little worrying especially with issues around planting, care and maintenance – but there’s no need to fret! With the right care and expert advice, these plants will flourish in your garden.

Planting A New Season Fruit Tree

Preparing the Soil and Planting Hole

Prepare the planting area by removing weeds, stones and clods and digging a planting hole that’s wider than the root system but about the same depth as the root ball. Add compost, well-rotted manure, or other soil improver to the soil, combining it well. We recommend adding Rocky Point’s Activegrow as it’s a great soil conditioner and has gentle fertilisers perfect for transplanting situations. Make a mound of soil in the centre of the hole to sit the root system on. If the soil is hard to dig or poorly drained (clay based like many of our local area), apply a clay breaker like Gypsum prior, or plant into a raised bed or mound rather than digging into the ground.

Correct Planting Depth and Staking

Place a stake or spade across the top of the planting hole as a guide and sit the plant at the same level in its new site as it was before it was dug up from the ground. Look for the tell-tale signs of earth above the root system and below the graft or growing point to assess the correct planting depth. Adjust planting depth by adding or removing soil in the hole. If using stakes to give the new plant added support, insert the stakes now.

Back Fill and Water In

Use the soil you dug out to create the planting hole to fill in around the roots. To eliminate air pockets, water and gently firm the soil with your hands or feet so the new plant is stable and upright. Create a depression in the soil around the stem to direct water to the root area. Water in and thoroughly saturate the soil. If staking, tie the trunk to the stake or stakes positioned beside the trunk using soft plant ties.

Mulch, Prune and Care

Cover the area with a layer of mulch around 5mm thick. Don’t pile mulch around the trunk – this can cause rotting. If necessary, prune the newly planted tree after planting cutting back by up to a third. 

Ongoing Care For Bare-Rooted Plants

These plants need frequent water while establishing, so water at least twice weekly – especially once new leaves appear. Reduce watering as the plant gets established, but provide additional water if summer is hot or dry. If the plant is staked, regularly check, and adjust the ties as the plant grows to avoid damage. Fertilise according to recommendations for the particular plant.

A Note On Pollination

In order for many fruit trees to be productive, they require cross-pollination from a compatible variety. Some examples include Apples, Kiwifruit Plums and Pears. Give us a call or pop into Wingham Nursery where we can let you know what you’ll need to be successful in your harvest. Right now, we have a great selection from Bananas, Berries, Stonefruit, Citrus, Pomegranate, Persimmon, Nut, Avocado, Dragon fruit, Mango and loads more!

Wingham Nursery & Florist

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