Planting Fruit Trees

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LVZHE 12 May 2012 Planting Fruit Trees.
Four fruit trees were purchased in large containers for $49.00 each. The four chosen were; two Semi Dwarf flavor Top Nectarine designated for Zone 6, and two Semi Dwarf Green Gauger Plum designated for Zone 4. My Zone is 5,so the nectarines might be on the limit.

The four fruit trees were planted in old existing prepared flower beds. The method was, rake back the old mulch, dig a hole with the Honda FG110G rototiller, place some coconut coir (replacement for peat moss) in the hole and rototill into the soil, place the tree in the hole and cover with soil, rake back the existing mulch.The planting area was heavily mulched using wood chips from my yard pile. The four trees were then supported via steel fence posts to limit movement during heavy winds. The tree was loosely tied to the posts using clothesline soft rope. There was sufficient moisture from the coconut coir which was water expanded and in the hole proper so watering was not necessary.

[oldjerry]

That's brave planting them in the ground Durgan,hope you've got loads of fleece!(and I guess you know about the outside water container trick for late frosts?) We're lucky here,there are several specialist fruit tree nurseries close by,and many have worked hard with genuine dwarfing stock so I can plant nectarines ,apricots etc. in moveable containers,they still need the cold water treatment though when you get an unexpected late frost.