Preparation for Planting Planting & Caring for Trees Misc. Topics Most Commonly Asked Questions Fruit Tree Pruning Preparation for Planting Should bloom time affect my tree selection? Bloom time is not as critical on apples as it is on other fruits. In situations where only a few apple varieties are planted, check to make sure bloom times coincide. Most apple varieties overlap bloom periods. Peach, nectarine and tart cherry trees are self-fruitful and do not require cross-pollination. Most plum, apricot, pear and sweet cherry varieties do require cross-pollination. A minimum of two different varieties is required for proper pollination. Also keep in mind that apricot, plum and cherry usually bloom ahead of apple and are more subject to crop loss due to spring frost. Most pear varieties are very frost tolerant. How big of a hole should I dig? A minimum 18" x 18" hole is recommended. How do I choose a good site for my trees? Fruit trees prefer well-drained soils. Avoid low areas subject to frost. Elevated sites that are sloped are ideal. If possible arrange rows to run North to South. Northern aspects are generally more frost tolerant. Fruit trees should be planted in full sun. What do I need to know about soil type? Fruit trees do not require fertile soils. Soils that are well-drained with some gravel or shale are ideal. Fruit trees struggle in heavy clay and poorly-drained soils. In situations where only these types of soils exist, ridging the planting to elevate the tree above the existing soil plane helps to rectify this problem. Your pH should be somewhere near 6.2 - 6.5 (neutral). Mend with lime if necessary. Planting & Caring for Trees Should I put fertilizer in the hole when I plant the tree? We do not encourage putting fertilizer in the hole at planting. More young trees die from over-fertilizing than anything else. We recommend fertilizer application 4-5 weeks after planting. No more than 4 ounces of 10-10-10 fertilizer should be applied around the drip line of each tree. Do not apply directly against the base of the tree. Allow the roots to grow to the fertilizer. How much water do trees require? A common sense approach should be taken to watering fruit trees. In times of drought, trees should receive a minimum of five gallons of water every ten days. Dwarf apple trees are less tolerant to drought conditions. Under drought stress, they require a minimum of five gallons per week. One method of watering trees is to drill a pinhole in a five-gallon bucket and allow the water to drip into the root system. Peach trees require more water two weeks prior to expected harvest date of fruit and final fruit swell. Be careful not to over-water fruit trees. How far apart should fruit trees be planted? Dwarf apple trees should be planted in the row 5-7 feet apart. Semi-dwarf apple trees should be planted at 12-14 feet and large semi-dwarf apple trees should be planted 16-18 feet apart. Open-center trained peach, nectarine, apricot, and plum trees should be spaced in the row 12-18 feet apart. Domestic pear should be spaced 12-14 feet and Asian pear trees should be spaced at 10-12 feet. Cherry trees should be planted 15-18 feet apart on seedling (mazzard) root and 10-12 feet apart on semi-dwarf root. Do I need to stake (provide support for) my trees? Dwarf apple trees require support. Dwarf rootstocks include Bud 9, M-9, G-11, G-16, EMLA 26 and M-9/EMLA 111. EMLA 7 is considered a freestanding rootstock however a short rigid stake is advised to avoid leaning. The larger EMLA 111 and EMLA 106 rootstocks are freestanding. Peach, nectarine, plum, pear, and apricot do not require staking. Cherry trees are freestanding although staking is advised on dwarf cherry (Gisela® roots). When using wood to support trees, a minimum 2.5" diameter pressure-treated pole is suggested. How do I prevent damage from ground-dwelling pests (i.e. rabbits and mice)? We recommend using a tree guard (minimum height 18") to prevent above ground girdling inflicted by rabbits and mice. We sell a white, plastic, self-coiling tree guard for this purpose. Please see our orchard supplies page to purchase tree guards. Can ACN give me spraying recommendations? ACN is not authorized to give spray recommendations. Growers may obtain spray information on the web at http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/. A hard copy of the Fruit Production Guide is also available at our online bookstore for $15.00. How much sun do fruit trees need? For the best results fruit trees should be planted where they will receive full sun. Fruit Tree Pruning Is there a guide for pruning? Pruning recommendations are given in the PSU Fruit Production Guide for Home Gardner. See the link in the left margin of this page. When should I do my annual pruning? Young apple, pear and cherry trees should be pruned a minimum of one month before bud break in late February or March. Peach, plum, apricot and nectarine trees can be pruned one month prior to bud swell and up through bloom.