Garden Secrets:

Step 1: The most important part to planting fruit trees is selecting the correct placement. Will the area be watered well in the summer months? Will fall rains drown the vegetation and turn it to a marsh? How is the soil? Is it sandy or clay? The clay is hardest to dig, and often not worth the effort. And while sand is easy to dig, it drains water quickly. If you are in luck, you will have a nice dark rich soil that is easy enough to dig through. To test an area take your spade and dig down a couple of feet. If you don't have a suitable spot, you can make your own soil mix to replace what you remove and till the surface area.

Step 2: Select fruit saplings of your choice. Most fruit trees need to be planted in pairs to pollinate and produce fruit. However, some species can pollinate others. Make sure to research what you want ahead of shopping. You will also need to make sure that the trees you select are rated for the cold weather zone your area is in. Planting seasons can vary based on your weather, but early spring and fall are usually proper times. Depending on your climate, the trees may require time to adjust and expand their roots before the winter settles in.

Step 3: Schedule time for your dig. The heat of day is never an ideal time to dig. Pick early morning or late afternoon for the activity to be less strenuous. Early mornings will usually ensure fewer prying eyes. Everyone is too focused on getting to work or still asleep to care what you are doing in the privacy of your backyard.

Pick a day after a heavy rain to ensure the easiest digging. But, if you are unable to and have a water hose that reaches, just let it soak the soil for a little while.

Step 4: For tools, you might consider garage sales or a local hardware store. If you regularly tend your yard, you likely have most of what is required. You will need sheers, rope, a good shovel, a spade is optional but makes the digging faster, a tape measure, a flashlight for that early morning dig, fertilizer, flags, plant tape, and a tarp. If you're planting far enough back on your property, a wagon makes the hauling easier. I prefer the ones with collapsible sides so I can roll things off with ease.

Step 5: Once you have everything gathered and relocated to your planting spot, use your tape measurer and flags to plot and mark where you will plant your trees. Space allotted can vary from tree to tree, but most require at least five feet. I always add an extra foot to be sure. You can also space them out much farther, which can better suit some landscapes. The max distance I would go is thirty feet.

Step 6: This is the most difficult part; dig those holes. To get started, break the top of the soil with your spade. Keep the top layer of grass intact if you want to avoid bald spots. You can set them to the side on your trusty tarp. After you remove the top layer of grass you can swap to your shovel. To properly dig a hole with a shovel, place the point against the ground with the handle vertical, place the heel of your foot on the flat top and bear down. Scoop out the dirt and collect it on your tarp to refill the hole later. Swap to the spade any time you encounter stubbern areas where the soil does not want to break apart.

Each hole may require considerable width and dept. You will need the hole to be deep enough to cover the roots of your sapling, plus an extra two to three feet. Animals will unearth your fertilizer without at least two feet of soil covering it. And really, the deeper it is placed, the better.

Step 7: Finally, it is time to place the trees. Start by laying your fertilizer in the hole. If it is too heavy to easily place, use the rope to drag and drop it into the hole. Cover the fertilizer completely with some of the soil you removed from the tarp. Pack in the soil tightly as you go. I like to stamp down on it with my boots.

Next, remove the fruit tree from the pot. You can do this by turning the tree on its side and lightly pressing your foot along the pot until the roots break away. Then by the base of the trunk, pull the tree out. Shake any extra soil from the roots then place the tree in the center of the hole. Place in the remaining dirt, packing it in tight. You will have extra soil, leave it on the tarp for now. Lastly, place the grass you preserved atop the soil.

Step 8: Fruit trees can be groomed to take certain shapes with stakes and planting tape, if you would like. If you do not wish to do this, simply give the tree an annual trim. You will want to give it one after planting. Examine your tree and select the main branches you wish to nurture fruit. Pick larger, thicker branches and alternate sides of the tree. Cut away the others at the base with the sheers.

Step 10: Gather up your tools. Take the remaining dirt and scatter it evenly across a grassy area or dump into a low spot you are hoping to fill in. Burn the tarp and rope. If you used a wagon, throughly clean it.

Take a shower, and remember to check the soil over the next few weeks for disturbances. If you did not dig deep enough, foxes, coyotes, and all number of critters will be interested in your trees. Now if you will excuse me, my fertilizer is starting to smell.