How Deep Do You Plant Fruit Trees?

Planting fruit trees is an excellent way of increasing the beauty and functionality of your home landscape. However, knowing the proper depth to plant a fruit tree can determine the survival rate of your plant. If you plant your fruit tree too shallow, it will wither or not grow beyond sapling stage. But if you plant it too deep, it will have difficulty developing its roots system, leading to stunted growth or death. In this article, we will discuss the appropriate depth for planting fruit trees and the benefits it brings to your garden.

Digging to the Right Depth

Before planting, you should survey your garden area and identify the ideal location for your fruit tree. Once you have that, the next step is to dig a hole in preparation for planting. The depth of the hole should be proportional to the size of the tree's root ball, which should correspond to the size of the hole. For most fruit trees, the hole depth should reach the depth of the root ball, but it should not be deeper than the root ball. The hole should also be wide enough to allow the roots to spread without bending or twisting around each other.

Why Planting Too Deep is Bad

While you might assume planting your fruit tree deeper will be better as it appears rooted, the opposite is true. Planting too deep is horrendous for a tree. Tree roots are responsible for absorbing essential minerals and nutrients from the soil. If the tree is planted too deep, the roots are suffocated, leading to dwarfing of the tree, and accumulation of water causing diseases such as rot. Shallow trees tend to be uprooted by strong winds or storms, which can not happen if your tree is planted at the right depth.

How to Ensure the Depth is Right

The tree position is also critical to ensure the depth is right. For the tree to be planted correctly, mark the height you want the tree to be before planting. This mark should sit at the topmost part of the root ball. The remaining hole should be filled with soil and water mixed in equal proportions to ensure the soil pack tightly around the tree's roots. The tree base should remain visible, but covering the roots ensures they get adequate moisture while they establish.

Conclusion

In summary, planting fruit trees is an exciting process, and the right depth ensures healthy tree life. Once you have the correct depth, you can now focus on the type of fruit tree you want to plant. Take time to research the best fruit trees for your garden, such as citrus or apple trees, and plant the tree at the appropriate time to increase its survival rate. Remember to keep the tree moist to help the fruit tree grow and reach maturity, and your garden will be reaping the benefits of the fruit tree for years to come.