Growing either fruit or nut trees will help beautify any garden as well produce shade. The eatable food it produces can make pleasant healthy snacks for the family. Ideally, more than one tree should be planted together for pollination. Even self pollinators will produce more when placed near others of the same verity. With proper maintenance, they will continue to produce fruit or nuts for many years.
Call 811 at least two to three days before you start any digging. This is a free national service in the U.S. and is required by law. Maintenance workers will come by and mark the location of underground lines, pipes and cables.
Choose two or more trees of the same verity. Buy the trees when they are still dormant and plan on planting them sometime during January to March.
Choose a planting spot that is away from any buildings and has full access to at least six hours of sunlight per day. Trees should be spaced 10 to 40 feet apart depending on the type of tree.
Dig a hole in the ground about twice the size of the pot the tree is in and add a one inch layer of compost or fertilizer mixed with potting soil into the bottom.
Squeeze the pot that the tree is in to loosen the soil. Tip the pot and hold the tree firmly by the base and gently pull it out. Place the tree into the hole and fill with potting soil. Firmly pat the soil down around the tree.
Lightly water the soil around the tree as to not disturb the soil. The soil should be moist with no puddles of water. Allow the water to drain into the soil for one to two hours then water the tree again.
Apply mulch around the base of the tree to lock in moisture and help prevent weeds.
Water the tree two to three times a week for the first three weeks. It will then need to be watered until the ground is saturated once a week. Trees that grow slowly, produce small fruit or nuts will need less water.
Apply fertilizer or compost to the base of the tree every six months.
Pruning should be done at least yearly when the plant is dormant to keep it from over growing and produce stronger branches. Use pruning shears to cut off smaller branches and shape the tree.
Harvest the tree by grabbing the branch that the fruit or nut is on, then firmly plucking it off while keeping the branch steady. Harvesting times will depend on the variety of the fruit or nut trees grown.
About this Author
Vanessa Lascano began writing in 2009, with her work focusing on topics such as trivia facts and tourist attractions. She has an Associate of Arts in liberal arts from Victor Valley College with an emphasis in behavioral studies and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology with a minor in history from California State University-San Bernardino.