Fruit Tree Planting & Initial Care

Proper planting is the most vital investment in the entire lifespan of a tree. Errors made during planting – such as burying the graft union beneath the soil line, inadequate planting hole preparation, or the absence of sturdy staking – lead to stunted growth, poor rooting, unwanted scion rooting, or windthrow years later. Professional planting includes not only correctly positioning the sapling in the soil, but also root pruning, rodent protection, and crucial post-planting pruning, which directly determines survival rates. If you wish to establish a new orchard or plant a specimen tree without risk, take advantage of our professional tree planting and pruning service.

Key principles of proper fruit tree planting:

✓ Correct planting depth and graft position: The graft union must always remain roughly 5 to 10 cm above the finished ground level to prevent the scion variety from forming its own roots and losing the rootstock's intended dwarfing or soil-adapting properties.

✓ Root system preparation prior to planting: Before setting the tree, damaged and broken roots are trimmed with clean, smooth cuts to promote rapid wound sealing and fibrous root development. Roots must never be cramped or forced upward in the hole.

✓ Solid tree staking and trunk protection: Support stakes are driven into the ground before setting the tree to prevent damaging the root ball. The tree is secured with a flexible figure-eight tie, and the trunk is fitted with a tree guard against rodent and wildlife gnawing.

Follow-up care in early years: Immediately after planting, we thoroughly water the root zone, and in early spring before bud break, we perform decisive post-planting pruning, which is subsequently followed in later seasons by crown formative pruning.

Unsure how to properly
shape a young tree?

Proper training in early years is critical to establishing a balanced, resilient scaffold branch system. Formative pruning prevents narrow crotches, builds strong limb angles, and sets the stage for a lifetime of easy maintenance and bountiful harvests.

After

Before

◄ ►

Professional peach tree pruning

We removed vertical shoots competing with the main scaffold limbs, encouraged wide branch crotch angles, and thinned the interior canopy base. Consistent formative training during the early years prevents premature canopy decline and promotes well-distributed growth of vigorous fruiting wood.