My apple trees??

sar050680

Hi all, just a quickie, I've recently planted two apple trees from B&Q. I'm looking for some general advice on how to look after them. Apart from the obvious watering them, which I do in the evening, I don't really know how to treat them...I'm gonna buy this soon, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Gardener-Grow-Your-Fruit/dp/1846072018/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1303320521&sr=8-4 , but thought I'd ask you guys too.

Is there a best time of day to water them, for example? Should I water every day?

Thanks, Paul.

splodger_seedswapper

you are quite late in planting fruit trees - so yes - you will need to water on a regular basis - until they can establish enough root in the ground to draw up the required nutrients - i would suggest a really good soak every two or three days - best done in the late afternoon / early evening - if this barmy weather continues

if you can get hold of any wood ash - give the trees a little sprinkle of that too - as it will do them the world of good

sar050680

Wood ash?? Burnt wood ash?

oldtractor

yes its a good fertilizer for them and promotes root growth. are they in tubs or in the ground?

sar050680

In the ground, i did mix fresh compost and fish bone (?) In when planting.

Gopppers

I read somewhere that potash promotes better fruits so worth a try.

DaftyDuck

Sorry to disagree with another poster, but I would only water them in the early morning, or late evening, when the sun isn't on them. You risk excessive wilt otherwise. A bit of feed may help, but I don't feed too regularly until the roots have developed, as it will slightly inhibit their searching out nutrients by growing more root.

A stake is worth it; it'll stop wind rock which, in this dry weather, may be serious for your tree. Ideally, put the stake in at an angle, well away from the roots, pointing into the prevailing wind (if you have one).

Should your tree have any dead branches, they could be pruned off, otherwise I wouldn't really prune anything for the first year. In the unlikely event of fruit forming in the first year I'd remove it (possibly leave one for pride/pleasure). All nutrient will go into growth that way.

Mainly, water thoroughly every few days !

RAS

I agree. Water minimally but well if the leaves start to droop. Otherwise let them find their own water and do not feed. If we have another hard winter, you do not want lots of weak sappy growth.

valk_scot

I planted six fruit tree saplings a few weeks ago and apart from the initial water in, I gave them nothing after that. Excessive watering just promotes the development of skinny surface roots and you really want trees to make deep roots as anchors, plus that way they'll be able to seek out their own water. It is late for planting bare rooted fruit trees though. Was it a container grown plant? If so, water only if the ground gets really dry and water really well. A good soak once or at most twice a week is better for a tree than a sprinkle every night.

If you mixed compost and other feed in when you backfilled the planting hole they won't need much else for a while, and certainly not before they put on a bit of active growth.

I did however double stake my trees. One stake on each side then two adjustable tree ties, one to each stake, set about a foot apart. One stake would normally be enough but my allotment is windy so.


As for fruit growth I don't expect any fruit this year and I wouldn't feed for fruit development. The first year's growth should be aimed at establishing a healthy, well bedded in tree which will go on to bear good crops in subsequent years, not to weaken it by trying to make it bear in the first year. I usually remove any small fruits that set, to prevent the tree wasting energy on developing them.

sar050680

Thanks for all the advice guys. Its the little things that help.:T

oldtractor

RAS wrote: »

I agree. Water minimally but well if the leaves start to droop. Otherwise let them find their own water and do not feed. If we have another hard winter, you do not want lots of weak sappy growth.

This is good advice.