This is how you plant fruit trees - the gardener's best tips

We start with the most important thing, where the tree should be placed. Because no matter if it sounds like a cliché, it is important to choose the right plant for the right place. If you do that, you have the absolute best conditions for success. If you want a proper harvest from the tree, you must choose a growing location where the tree thrives and can grow strong and vigorous. Most fruit trees need a sunny and sheltered location to bear as much fruit as possible. In addition, most trees require moist but well-drained soil. Sufficient sunlight ensures that the fruit ripens properly, making it sweeter and better. Once you have the growing location ready, it's time to plant the tree. But first, I want to give you a few tips on preparations.

You need this to plant a fruit tree: Spade, Watering equipment, Plant soil, Tree support and hammer, Jute ribbon, Tree protector

The first thing I do when I plant, whether it's a tree, shrubs or perennials, is to make sure the plant is thoroughly watered. Let the pot with the plant stand in a bucket or tub of water while you prepare the planting hole. The plant will absorb the water while you do the digging. It's also a good idea to place the plant in the shade and slightly cool before planting., Mark the planting spot by removing the grass in a spacious circle, so that the grass doesn't take away the nutrients the tree needs. The circle should be the same size in circumference as the tree's canopy.

Now it is time to dig the hole for the tree, and it should be quite large - at least twice as wide as the root ball, preferably even wider, and a little deeper. It is easy to think that the hole should be round, but a square hole prevents so-called root circling. Root circling occurs when the roots seek out towards the walls of the hole and follow them around and around before finding their way out into the surrounding soil. It is the same thing you can see when replanting plants that are in round pots. Therefore, it is actually better to dig a square planting hole. If the roots do not find their way out of the planting hole right away, they will do so as soon as they reach the corner and hit the "wall".

This tip is to add stones to the bottom of the hole to create a stable base. This way, the root ball does not sink down when the soil settles. The soil will fill in between the stones as you fill the hole, and the stones will create a solid foundation for the root ball to rest on. Alternatively, you may need to pack the soil under the root ball very well so that the soil does not sink as much.

Another trick I use is to fill the planting hole with water before I plant. I let the soil absorb the water, and this also saturates the soil around the planting hole with water. This helps both the planting hole and the soil clump retain moisture longer, which is especially important if the ground is dry where you are planting the tree.

Most trees need help to stand firm, at least in the first years before the roots have established properly. This is easiest done with stakes and jute bands.,,Plant support is especially important for trees with weak main stems, which may actually need support for as long as they live. For fast-growing trees, it is usually necessary with tree support for a couple of seasons - about as long as the jute band remains intact and fresh.,,Place the stakes on the edges of the planting hole before you plant. To ensure that the stakes stand properly, you should drive them in well, about 30 cm deeper than the planting hole.

When it's time to plant the tree, I mix the soil that is already on the site with new planting soil. Equal parts of each usually work well.

Loosen the soil clump gently with your hands, so that you free the outermost roots. This allows the roots to more quickly spread out and anchor the tree in the ground. Place the tree in the middle of the planting hole so that the root collar is level with the ground or slightly higher. The grafting point for fruit trees, the slightly thicker bump at the base of the trunk where the variety of the fruit tree is grafted, should always be above ground. The soil always settles a little in the first time after planting, so it is a good idea to plant the tree a little higher to compensate for this, especially if there are only soil and no stones at the bottom of the planting hole. Fill the planting hole with the soil mixture, packing it with your foot to remove any air pockets. Then fill with more soil until it reaches ground level. Press down with your foot again. Create a small berm to prevent water from running away from the tree when you water it.

When the tree is planted, you must water the soil properly. Water little by little, and let it soak in before watering more. This way, the water goes deep into the soil and keeps it moist for longer. I water with 30 liters of water right after planting.,, During the first season, the tree needs at least 30 liters of water per week to establish properly. This is equivalent to about 30 mm of rain, so you can get an idea of how much water is needed.,, I recommend using watering bags, which I like to use for my newly planted trees. Watering bags provide an easy and slow watering that goes deep into the soil.

Tree protection for newly planted trees is easy to forget or be careless with. But it almost always backfires. Young fruit trees are pure gourmet meals for hares and deer, to name a few. To keep the tree in peace, you should protect it. Tree protectors are a cheap and, I would say, necessary insurance for your newly planted fruit tree.,,And that was actually it. Now you should have all the prerequisites to succeed with your fruit tree, and you will be able to enjoy many years of brilliant harvests.,,If it's an apple tree you want most, you can read my article on how to choose the right apple tree for your garden.

Malou Augustin, gardener, garden designer and garden inspirator who lectures and offers online courses on garden design and cultivation.,@evergreengarden.se