The boat laboured in the heavy seas. The crew had been at sea for many months and provisions and morale were low. They feared that they may never reach land again. Up in the crows-nest the young lad searched the horizon once more. All of a sudden he saw the glimmer of a shape in the distance – he rubbed his eyes to make sure that they were not deceiving him – but his eyes were telling the truth, there ahead lay the faint yet beautiful sight of the familiar white cliffs. With a loud cry he uttered: ‘land ahoy’ and the crew gave one almighty cry of relief.
Forgive me for indulging in such melodramatics but so many gardeners feel this way at this time of year. The winter months seem so drawn out and the first month of the year passes so slowly. Every day we venture out into the gardens hoping to catch a glimpse of new life, a bud bulging here or a bulb nose poking out there.
Soon the garden journalists will wax lyrically of the harbingers of spring and there will be no stopping the relentless march of the seasons. For now though the merest glimpse of life in our seemingly dead garden will bring hope to our winter weary hearts.
I have no formal qualifications in horticulture and so I offer this description of planting a fruit tree with fear and trepidation. I am sure that someone will write in and tell me that I have done it all wrong. My only defence is that there are many ways of planting a tree and most of the trees I have planted over the years have grown on to be happy and fruitful so I must be getting something right.
The photo above was taken a few weeks ago when I prepared the holes for planting a few fruit trees. A fair amount of compost and blood fish and bone was added and a few rocks removed. I prefer preparing the holes in advance so that there is not so much of a panic when the trees arrive by post. It also allows the soil level to settle down and find its own level. Digging the holes certainly warmed me up on that snowy day!
The Ashmead Kernel apple tree was laid out ready. there was not much of a wind but I stlll covered the roots up. The roots were still quite damp but I dipped them in the pond for good luck.
Room was made for the root system and then good soil was replaced, teasing the soil between the gaps of the roots, carefully making sure that no air pockets were left. Then I stood on the soil to stomp everything down. I use a bamboo cane to make sure the soil is at the right level, just covering where the top root protrudes from the stem. This should leave the graft union sticking up in the air by about three inches.
A sturdy stake is then hammered in with a lump hammer. The ties were shorter than I usually use and so I had to bring the stake nearer to the tree than I would have liked. If I rattle the top of the tree and see that there is little movement at the base of the tree then I know that I have staked it well. The stake is then cut to size with a bow saw taking real care that I do not damage the tree itself. Some trees need one tie and some need two. The vital thing is to make sure the tree does not rub against the stake.
All that needs to be done then is to put the spiral rabbit protector on, sprinkle a layer of compost on top to make it pretty and offer up a prayer to the heavens.
The weather has been cold but sunny this week and has cheered everyone up no end. Even grumpy George has half-a-grumpy smile on his face these days!
natural sculpture….
Gratifying post. It is preferable to hear experience advice from the “amateur” gardener who has more growing experience than many certified horticulturalists with diploma right out of school.
thank you Susan….
If a tree thrives then it has been well planted, and you have clearly been successful in the past so I declare it a good method 😉 I rather like it that there are so many ways to do so many garden tasks.
A wonderful thing to do, planting a tree, by which ever method, currently in vogue or out of it. I’m jealous, I have no room for any more.
I loved your intro too, it really does feel as if we are coming to the end of a long voyage, with the first hint of landfall in the form of bulbs and buds.
thank you Janet for your encouragement as ever!
Hi Mike, A sensational build-up to to what woud be the urbane task of tree planting. Your clear instruction belies the loving care that you give your trees. No wonder they flourish. Digging the hole in advance seems like a very good idea but had thought the ground was too frozen to tackle with anything other than an ice pick. Now the weather is clement enough for even amateur gardeners to stir from their shelters.
Hello Laura, yes the soil was frozen that day but only on the surface, half an inch down it was fine….
You’re certainly right about there being many ways to complete a task. ‘I’, with the help of 4 strapping lads, planted 2 enormous trees last week, both weighing in around 750kg (rootballed). Having not planted anything this size before and being the supposed Horti ‘expert’ on site I did some homework, ok LOTS of homework and all views pretty much conflict at some point, big hole, not so big hole, stake, no stake, feed, no feed, michrorizal or not and on and on.
In the end I followed as taught and left lengthy aftercare info for the gardeners!!!
It seems to me the more we actually ‘do it’ the more we just ‘know’ about what will work in a given situation.
Looking forward to seeing pics of this in bloom this spring.
Hi Rosalind, yes the intuitive approach does work although we never stop learning….and so many experts out there!
I would love to see you trying to dig up here – our ground is rock solid like a brick. The only thing different I do to you is use a shorter stake pointed in the direction of the prevailing wind and I add that Root gro or Start that has that special fungi added.
It’s been cheerful weather up here too only I thought the floods were bad enough – then the swineflu arrived in the house this week!
H Rosie, you have my sympathies…we enjoy good light soil here although where I have planted the orchard has some builders rubble mixed in with it….hope the rains have died down in your parts….
Planting fruit trees is a lovely task, full of promise of things to come! Your approach seems perfect to me. Love that old tree trunk, too. Enjoy the sunshine!
hello, so glad you liked the photo of the old tree trunk, i came across it as i walked around an old fishing pond that i frequent from time to time….