Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction More trees going in this weekend

25 pear trees and a few more plum trees came in today. The area I cleared for them hasn't been bull dozed level yet so I'll be scattering them in the numerous small openings I've opened up over the past couple years... They'll be food plot trees, except for the plum, there's room in the existing orchard for them. About 140 or so of the 200 Chinese chestnut from this years planting are viable so they'll be going in once I see the buds starting to open from the trees that are already established. Will seed the couple acres I opened up in January after its leveled with clover and chicory, maybe try some beets too. Figure out what trees I want for next spring and fit them there. Finish leveling around the lower ponds and seed that too.... Build a floating dock on the swimming pond... Prep the pole barn location... Does anybody ever finish all this stuff and then just enjoy it?
I guess it's a good thing I kind of enjoy the journey.

Wow what a project, HW - congrats. Can you describe how you prepare the ground before planting? Do you mulch or use landscape fabric to prevent grass/weeds from competing for water? How often do you water your trees once planted?

Hollywood, I have one pear tree and the deer will get most all of the pears if I don't keep a close eye, I will not get any pears, and its a nice pear tree, produces a lot of pears. I planted persimmon trees the last 3 yrs for food plots, do they grow there? And I am glad I am not the only one that has two many projects ongoing. makes me feel almost Normal Tj, hear in E Texas, one must water everyday in July, Aug, Sept if you want a New tree to survive the first yr. Sorry for jumping in on that Hollywood.

Tracy

No problem Tracy- one of the things I enjoy most about this site is hearing about all the regions we're blessed with in this country (and others) and the differences and similarities. Glad to hear the deer like the pears... That's mostly why these are going in. I've heard they'll walk past 100 Apple trees to get to a pear tree.

TJ- at first I tried fabric and mulching. But after awhile and after enough trees go in, so far in order of planting, 32 crabapple, 50 Apple, about 200 chestnut and now the new trees... I'm following the lead of my friend that I get the fruit trees from and just keeping weed growth from around the drip line. He has over 20,000 trees and that's how they do it. He and two helpers planted 1,100 Apple trees last weekend. They use an 18" auger off the back of the tractor, go down about 8 inches, plunk down the barefoot tree, kick the dirt back in over the roots and heel it in a bit. That's it. So that's about all I do now as well. I loosen things a bit more than they do around the outside to help give the new root growth some room. With the bare root fruit trees, the most important part is to lop off the tree about belt buckle high after you plant it. They'll grow twice as fast as an uncut tree this way. I water them in very well at planting, but that's it. We live in a pretty wet part of the country (pretty similar to Seattle) though we went through a pretty dry spell last summer. I was too busy to water the trees and was very concerned about them. My buddy with the orchard told me to relax, they'd be just fine. He was right. The way things have played out this spring (not according to plan, as usual) I'm winding up with a two acre clean slate where I had planned to put this years trees. Time to start figuring out what I'd like to go there for next spring already. Good trees sell out early!

Hollywood, do you have persimmon trees? they make a great food plot tree.
Tracy

I have a couple friends that have tried them here but the trees don't seem to thrive for some reason. I've heard they are quite the draw! Perhaps I'll research to see the best way to go about it in our region. One thing I do have, in spades, is wild grape. Spent days cutting through vines up to seven or eight inches thick. They were growing up and over 100 foot tall sugar maples, nearly smothering them. The kids want to try some domestic grapes on an arbor. I imagine those will do well!

I usually go around the fruit trees 3-4 times a year with round-up in a sprayer and spray all the way out to the drip line.

Easier to maintain too.

Thanks hw. I think if likely have to water at least weekly up here in ne gets very hot and dry during summer but the vegetation treatment was what I really needed to learn about. Good tips!

My buddy with the orchard said the fabric or mulch becomes habitat for mice and voles, which like to chew the bark off fruit trees, especially young ones. My three acre orchard is right up in the middle of the hardwoods. Opening this area up has done wonders for the wildlife. I buy 150' rolls of 6" square 5' tall concrete mesh and cut ten 15' sections. I have every fruit tree surrounded by this, works great for keeping the deer off. Too small an area to jump into, big enough to prevent browsing, sturdy enough to stand on their own without t posts. The trees wouldn't stand a chance without it.