When Is The Best Time To Plant Fruit Trees?

Q: I'd like to plant some fruit trees in my yard this year. When is the best time?

A: Fruit trees are usually planted bare-root during the dormant season. This is the time between November and early April when most deciduous fruit trees are out of leaf, and the earlier it can be done, the better.

It's much better for the plant to have a long period to be able to regenerate its roots before the stresses of spring and summer heat come on. Survival rates are likely to be higher.

Unfortunately, except for a few local growers who dig and sell trees beginning in the fall, most nurseries and garden centers often don't have their trees before the end of January and into February. In any case, plant them as soon as you can get them.

Fruit trees require well-drained soil in full sun. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root system and no deeper than its length. Make sure the graft union, down at the base of the stem, is several inches above the soil, after the backfill is added to the hole. Break up and loosen the soil before replacing it around the roots. No amendments are necessary.

Any broken roots should be cut clearly behind the break before the tree is planted. Don't prune back any of the branches; simply remove any broken, crossing, weak or misplaced ones. More pruning than this will delay or inhibit root regeneration. You can do more pruning next year if necessary.

Water newly planted fruit trees religiously as soon as the weather begins to turn dry. Every 7 to 10 days is about right.

Apples on very dwarfing root stocks will probably need some form of support for their entire lives. It's well therefore to plant a stake with them that will also last a very long time.

Gardening runs Friday in the Scene section and Sunday in Home/Real Estate of The Seattle Times. It is prepared by George Pinyuh and Holly Kennell, Washington State University / King County Cooperative Extension agents, Mary Robson, Master Gardener program assistant, and volunteer Master Gardeners. Send questions to: Gardening, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. Questions of general interest will be answered as space allows.