Planting: Get more for your dollar and more from your tree

Buying fruit trees to plant requires a bit of planning--planning that will save you money as well as ensure that you get the most from your investment. Knowing when to buy, plant and where to plant your tree is essential to your its success when it comes to producing fruit.

The best time to buy deciduous fruiting treesis when growth is dormant. This allows you to get them when they are usually bare-rooted, which makes for easy planting. However, some nurseries stock potted trees all year round.  Buying dormant trees is an economical  because the nursery will not have had to invest in the labour to pot them up.

Look for healthy, well-shaped trees and plant them immediately. Even though the roots of bare-rooted trees are packed in a moisture-retaining container, there is a risk of drying out.

Plant these in early spring, as soon as the ground is workable.

• When planting, first make sure the soil has good drainage, then make sure to dig a hole that   is deep and wide enough to accommodate the full spread of the roots.
• The ground at the base of the hole should be broken up to allow root penetration, and some well-rotted manure or compost should be mixed with the soil from the hole to get the plants off to a good start.
• Most fruit trees need staking, and this should be done when the tree is being planted rather than afterwards, as that can cause root damage.
• Make sure that the area is free from weeds and that the hole is large enough to accommodate the spreading roots.
• Place the tree into position with care, so that the main trunk is in line with the stake, and fill in and around with the soil-compost mixture.
• After planting, water well and mulch with organic matter to keep weed growth down and the soil warm and moist.

If you are planting for the sake of decoration and fruit, keep in mind that most fruiting varieties resent being planted into the lawn. Mulching the area at the base of the tree will keep lawn from invading a tree's root system.