Soil Prep & Fertilization

After you dig your hole, mix the loosened native soil approximately 50/50 with a high quality potting mix before you finish planting your tree.

Fertilizing Your Trees

We always recommend using an organic fertilizer such as bone meal, blood meal, feather meal, or a mixture. Sprinkle your fertilizer directly on the soil being careful to avoid direct contact with the tree trunk. Water the soil around your tree after fertilizing to help the soil absorb the nutrients.

It’s important to fertilize your tree at the right time. It’s most important to fertilize your trees during fall time before winter sets in. We also recommend fertilizing your trees once in the early summer.

Soil Moisture

Monitoring your soil moisture often is crucial for maintaining healthy fruit trees. You can buy soil moisture meters online or sometimes in your local garden center. It’s important to maintain a soil moisture level between 21-40% during the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. Watering your trees during the winter is not needed.

Mulching

Mulch is made of organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, straw, bark, compost, sawdust, shredded newspaper, or cardboard. You can purchase a mulch mixture through your local garden center.

Adding a layer of mulch spread around the base of your trees can help retain moisture, inhibit weed growth, and regulate soil temperature. However, avoid placing the mulch directly against the trunk to prevent the risk of root rot.