While spring planting has its advantages, many fruit trees and bushes actually thrive in the fall season. If you’re looking to establish a thriving edible landscape, food forest, or orchard, the cooler autumn weather presents an ideal opportunity for planting. As such, now is the perfect time to begin planning and preparing for a bountiful harvest come next year.
Spring Planting vs. Fall Planting
Deciduous fruit trees and bushes are the norm, characterized by a seasonal shedding of leaves in autumn. This period is followed by a state of dormancy during winter, when the plant’s energy reserves are conserved. As spring arrives, new leaf growth commences, allowing the tree to re-establish its connection with the earth. During this process, plants typically develop shallow root systems that focus on accessing water and essential nutrients for the production of fruit.
Spring Planting
As the seasons transition from spring to summer, plants shift their attention to reproduction. This process is characterized by the development of flowers and subsequent fruit. During this period, root growth is significantly reduced, allowing the plant to allocate its energy towards producing offspring.
When introducing new fruit trees or bushes in the spring, it’s common practice to remove any blooms that have formed, thereby encouraging the plant to focus on establishing a strong root system during the subsequent fruiting period. However, research has shown that even among non-fruiting trees, as soil temperatures begin to rise, root growth naturally slows.
Furthermore, the warmer weather often associated with spring can lead to dry and stressed conditions for newly planted trees if proper care is not taken. Regular, deep watering is essential to prevent dehydration and ensure a healthy start for these young plants.
Fall Planting
As the last remnants of summer fade, many fruit trees and bushes enter a period of intense root development. Following the conclusion of their fruiting cycle, these plants redirect their energy towards establishing strong anchor roots and storing vital reserves to sustain them during their winter dormancy. This pivotal moment in the plant’s life cycle sets the stage for healthy growth and resilience. When planting in autumn, trees and bushes respond by swiftly establishing deep roots.
The focus on root growth during this period allows for a more rapid rooting process compared to spring planting, where plants may initially concentrate on above-ground growth before transitioning to root development. In contrast, fall-planted specimens can devote themselves exclusively to underground growth. Notably, even as the trees’ above-ground structures enter dormancy during winter, their roots continue to grow beneath the surface, provided the soil remains unfrozen.
The length of this period depends on your local climate and soil freeze rates. This prolonged root growth allows fall-planted specimens to establish a robust root system before the onset of summer’s stress-inducing warm temperatures, when root growth typically slows.
Winter Stress
While winter can pose challenges for trees, their natural dormant state in cold temperatures means that stress caused by the season is typically not as severe as what they might face during the summer. Most winter damage occurs higher up, on branches, due to factors like wind and frost-freeze cycles. Trees that have already endured significant summer stress from extreme heat or drought are more susceptible to wintertime harm.
As for planting fruit trees and bushes, regardless of whether you do it in spring or fall, they will require a bit more attention during their early years after being planted. However, autumn planting can provide an advantage when it comes to establishing roots and accelerating the journey towards fruit production.
Fall Planting Preparation
To set your fruit trees and bushes up for success, it’s essential to take care of some crucial pre-planting tasks. First and foremost, you’ll want to prepare the soil by clearing any debris, weeds or rocks that might be hiding beneath the surface.
Check Your Soil pH
Soil pH is a crucial aspect of plant growth, as it determines the availability of nutrients for plants to thrive. The pH scale ranges from 0.0 to 14.0, with 7.0 being neutral. Each plant species has its unique tolerance range, dictating how well it can grow and absorb essential nutrients. For instance, blueberries require a more acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5, while apple trees prefer a slightly alkaline environment with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 7.0, depending on the variety.
Before planting, it’s essential to determine the preferred pH range for your desired fruit trees or bushes. To do so, use an at-home soil test kit available online or in garden stores. This simple and quick process will give you an accurate reading of your soil pH in just a few minutes. If your pH is within the acceptable range for your plants, you can proceed to other soil amendments. However, if it’s out of range, you’ll need to apply lime to raise the pH or sulfur to lower it.
The soil test kit will often provide recommendations on the quantity and type of amendments required. Alternatively, consult with your local agricultural extension office for personalized guidance.
Amend Your Soil
Preparing your fruit tree or bush soil for planting involves more than just adjusting the pH level. Even with optimal pH, compacted or nutrient-deficient soil can hinder growth. To ensure success, it’s crucial to prepare your soil several months prior to planting. This allows amendments time to work their way through the soil profile and become available to plants.
For fall-planted fruits, avoid using fertilizer, as this will encourage new top growth that may not harden off in time for winter, leaving it vulnerable to damage.
Applying compost is a safer approach to conditioning your soil before planting. If you have loam soil, top-dressing with 3-4 inches of compost several months prior should be sufficient. However, if you have poor quality soil, such as clay, sand, or silt dominant soil, consider pre-digging the hole.
Make the hole three times wider and two times deeper than your expected root mass, then backfill it with a 50/50 mix of native soil and compost, breaking up any clumps and removing rocks.
Mineralizing your soil is another crucial step. You can opt for professional soil testing to determine which minerals you need, or take the easy route by applying rock dust, such as Basalt or Granite, after incorporating compost.
This slow-moving mineral source can help less-than-ideal soils move towards being loamy.
Finally, ensure your planting area receives regular watering at least once a week until the time of planting. By following these steps and allowing ample time for preparation, you’ll be setting yourself up for successful fruit tree or bush growth.
Order Your Trees and Bushes Early
As the demand for backyard food production continues to surge, many reputable retailers selling high-quality fruit trees and bushes often sell out before the planting season is over. To avoid disappointment, it’s essential to start researching varieties and suitability for your local climate and soil conditions ahead of time. Once you’ve made your decisions, consider pre-ordering to ensure availability of the specific plant varieties you want.
Additionally, note that spring-planted trees are often shipped dormant with bare roots, which can reduce shipping costs. In contrast, fall-planted trees typically arrive in containers, resulting in potentially higher shipping fees. If possible, buying directly from local distributors in your area can help minimize shipping expenses and provide a head start for your plants to thrive in their new environment.
Fall Planting Tips
As the seasons transition into autumn, it’s essential to prepare your newly acquired plants for their new home. Upon receiving or collecting your plants, take a moment to attend to a few key tasks to ensure they thrive from the get-go.
Plant Right
When planting trees, it’s crucial to maintain the same depth at which they were originally planted in their pots. Planting them deeper can lead to stunted growth or even root rot. To ensure a healthy start, spread out the roots in a circular motion and layer them gently into the soil. It’s essential to provide good quality soil around the roots, allowing for expansion as the tree grows.
To avoid compacting the soil, which can harm the young trees’ development, it’s better to stake them and secure them to the stake until their roots establish themselves. This will help prevent damage and ensure a strong foundation for future growth.
Use Mycorrhizal Inoculant
Recent studies have revealed the remarkable impact of fungi on the health and well-being of fruit trees and bushes. These microorganisms play a crucial role in facilitating nutrient uptake, combating disease, and deterring pests, ultimately promoting healthier plant growth. Moreover, they stimulate root development and foster overall plant vitality.
To harness these benefits, it’s essential to incorporate mycorrhizal inoculant into your planting process.
This powdered amendment is typically applied at the time of planting and ensures that the fungi are present in the soil from the outset. When selecting a mycorrhizal inoculant, be sure to choose one specifically formulated for use with fruit trees and bushes.
Water Deeply
When transplanting trees and shrubs, whether upgrading their home or simply relocating them, it’s essential to consider the stress this process can cause. A simple yet effective way to mitigate this stress is through intense watering after planting. This technique not only activates the mycorrhizal inoculant by contacting the roots but also makes nutrients in the soil readily available for the plants to absorb.
In a sense, deep watering can be thought of as helping plants settle into their new surroundings more quickly. To ensure optimal establishment, it’s crucial to continue this weekly practice even during periods of dormancy if natural rainfall is insufficient.
Mulch Appropriately
When it comes to soil care after planting fruit trees and bushes, applying 3-4 inches of mulch is a crucial step. The type of mulch used can vary depending on the specific plant’s requirements. For example, plants that thrive in slightly alkaline soils (pH levels above 5.5) such as fruit trees and bushes, benefit from a layer of hardwood mulch. On the other hand, acidic-loving plants like blueberries respond well to natural materials like oak leaves, pine bark, or pine needles.
It’s important to avoid mulching directly around the base of your fruit trees altogether. This can create an environment that attracts pests and potentially harm your tree by allowing rot to set in. Additionally, in grafted trees, mulching too close to the trunk can cause the rootstock to take over the dominant variety. To maintain good air circulation and prevent these issues, leave a small gap (about 2-3 inches) open directly around the base of each tree.
Protect Your Plants
While many types of fruit plants are a treat for humans, they also happen to be a favorite snack among wildlife such as deer, voles, and mice. On the other hand, newly planted trees require special care to ensure their young roots take hold properly. This can be achieved by employing protective measures like encasing them in cages or wrapping their trunks with collars, thereby safeguarding their health and development.
Plan Your Care Routine
While a strong foundation is crucial for fruit production, routine care is still essential to ensure optimal yields. Unfortunately, various persistent diseases and pests can hinder growth, even in resistant varieties. To effectively protect your plants, it’s crucial to research their specific care needs before planting. This will prepare you to provide the necessary attention come springtime.
Fruit care typically involves pre-season fertilization to promote healthy leaf and fruit development.
Certain fruits like apples, pears, peaches, and others require dormant sprays containing copper and sulfur to combat fungal diseases such as brown rot in peaches. A spray regimen during the bloom and fruiting periods is also necessary for optimal protection.
Conclusion
While cultivating healthy fruit trees and bushes does require some effort, the benefits of enjoying fresh, homegrown produce for years to come make it an investment well worth making. To get started with planting fall fruit trees that will yield a bountiful harvest within just a couple of years, begin your preparations now and watch as your hard work pays off.
