How to Plant a Fruit Tree So It Actually Establishes

Hole width, graft height, watering and the two mistakes that kill more young fruit trees than anything else.

The steps

1. Check Pollination. Many need a second variety. Check before you buy one.
2. Plant When Dormant. Late autumn through early spring. Roots settle before growth starts.
3. Dig Wide, Not Deep. Three times the root width. Same depth as the pot.
4. Keep the Graft High. Graft bump above soil level. Buried grafts lose the dwarfing.
5. Skip the Fertiliser. No feed in the planting hole. Roots must reach out.
6. Backfill and Firm. Use the soil you dug out. Firm gently, leave no gaps.
7. Mulch, Not Touching. Ring of mulch around it. Keep it off the trunk.
8. Water Two Years. Deep soak weekly when dry. Drought kills more than cold.

Pro tip. Most young fruit trees are lost in their first two summers, and almost always to drought rather than cold. One long slow soak a week through dry spells beats a daily sprinkle every time.