Planting your bare root - Tips, Tricks, Do’s and Dont’s Your Bare root fruit trees arrive in dormant state. However, they should be planted as soon as possible after you receive them. If you need to delay planting for a few days, place the root ball in moist newspaper or sawdust and store in a dark place. Whatever you do, make sure the roots don’t dry out!

Tools and Preparation Staking -Bare root fruit roots are shallow initially, so Try to prepare your planting hole before you pick up your staking your trees with tree posts will help stabilize them in trees. Yes!, you will need a shovel! windy conditions and also enable correct structure to develop Gopher Cages -We highly recommend using a gopher cage as the trees grow. before you . This will protect the roots from gopher Mulching - Mulching your trees helps conserve and damage, especially if you are planting on an open hillside. prevent weeds. It also assists with feeding your trees. Remember to allow a 2-3” clearance from the trunk.

1) the Planting Hole 2) Adding Dig a hole that is twice the diameter of the Do not add any fertilizer at this stage. The trees will not need to root spread. Dig a foot down, (more if using be fed until later in the spring when foliage appears. However, gopher cages) then backfill and tamp the we highly recommend using a inoculant to help in so that the flare (where the trunk promote root growth in the first months of the trees meets the roots) will sit at or slightly above development. Mix evenly into the back-fill soil as you make soil level with the roots spreading your mound. You may also add Bonemeal for mineralization. downward. Look for the “Nursery Line” which is a change in color at the base of the 4) Backfilling the Planting Hole trunk and represents the level at which tree While holding the tree upright, backfill the hole, pressing soil was originally planted around and between the roots. Firm the soil and eliminate air pockets. Construct a 3–4" high ridge of soil around the outer 3) Planting your tree edge of the planting hole. This berm will create a basin to hold To plant, spread the roots out in the water and concentrate it over the roots. Use a hose hole, adjusting as necessary so the to fill the basin, and then allow the water to soak in, repeating flare sits slightly higher (1/2" to a couple times. Remove any plant tags or labels from the tree. 3/4") than the soil level to allow for settling after planting. Planting the 5) Watering flare too deep is a common cause of Proper moisture is critical to plant failure. the survival of your young tree. The roots should never Tree Tie Tree post dry out completely, nor should they be waterlogged. The best way to check ? Use your finger. Backfill Line Root Flare Berm Mulch Line Dig down 2–4" just outside the root mass of the plant and water if the soil feels dry. Thorough soakings that moisten the entire depth of the root mass are better than frequent light waterings. A ring-shaped Root Ball soaker hose makes it easy to give this slow, deep Ambient soil Gopher Basket Backfill watering. (Top of gopher basket 1’’ above the soil line) Commonly asked Questions

Where should I plant my tree? Can I plant my tree in a What about my tree? Will I get fruit this year? Fruit trees need full sun (6-8 container? Pruning should not be done in It depends on the tree- Hours a day), so pick a nice While they provide a great short the first year. We encourage some apple and pear sunny space. Most standard term solution for the first 1-2 you to read up about pruning trees do produce the first fruit trees can be planted 10 years of your tree, containers your trees before doing any year. However, your feet apart, but even closer if will constrict long term root pruning. Stone fruit trees do young tree is going to be you prune back heavily in growth and development of the need specific pruning care in putting almost all it’s between seasons. We tree. Using a 24’’ tree box for order to maximize fruit energy in getting used to recommend intensive planting short term planting will allow production. its new home. combined with good pruning. proper root development.