How to Plant Fruit Trees for MAXIMUM Growth and Harvest

Late winter and early spring are the best time to plant fruit trees and bushes. In this video, I'm showing you how to plant a bare root fruit tree, plus what to look for when choosing your tree, and how to properly care for, fertilize, and water your tree once it's planted.
Visit my blog post where I share even more tips, including orchard planning strategies for growing a variety of fruit trees (plus my tips on what trees to grow in small spaces): melissaknorris.com/whenandhow...
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Listen in to the top #10 rated Pioneering Today Podcast for Home & Garden for Simple Modern Homesteading Tips melissaknorris.com/podcast-2/
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My Books:
The Family Garden Planner: melissaknorris.com/planner
The Family Garden Plan: melissaknorris.com/family-gar...
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The Made-from-Scratch Life: melissaknorris.com/made-from-...
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Howdy! I'm so glad you're here. I'm Melissa from Pioneering Today and a 5th generation homesteader where I'm doing my best to hold onto the old traditions in a modern world and share them with others.
Click any of the below links for FREE resources and training to help you on your homestead!
Homemade Sourdough Starter Series melissaknorris.com/learnsourd...
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For raising, cooking, and preserving your own food, come hang out with me on Instagram / melissaknorris
and Facebook / melissaknorris
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#plantingfruittrees #fruittrees #bareroottrees

[@niharikarao3677]

the part where she explained how roots "realize" that one spot is fertile than the other and so they wont spread was mind blowing.

[@AustinTexasGardening]

I got 15 fruit trees in my suburban backyard. Somebody stop me!

[@mikyahalbena-yasharal3387]

🤣 You’re fiiiine! Totally normal.

[@janet5820]

😂😂

[@rrbb36]

👍 Another really good practice when planting grafted trees, is to position the tree in the hole so that the graft bulge faces AWAY from direct sun and strong winds.

[@jacobspranger1267]

Thats a good tip. I like to plant with the graft facing into the prevailing winds and at a slight angle towards that direction. Not much. Another tip I'd add in is not to dig the hole to deep as to where you have to add material back in to get your desired hight for the grapht portion to be stitting. Make sure you plant onto hard pack. If you're more northern and get snow make sure to get trunk protectors to protect against vole, mole, mice and rabbit pressure. They have a tendency to "girdle" trees under the snow and or above. More so rabbits girdle above snow.

[@pbandjelly1311]

@@jacobspranger1267 can you explain this to me like I'm two 😅😬 I don't understand what you mean by "pressure" -- do you mean from these animals trying to eat the tree? And what does that have to do with snow? Thank you!!! I aim to get a nectarine tree soon. And maybe a fig tree too.

[@jacobspranger1267]

@@pbandjelly1311 mice and voles tunnel around under the snow and they like to eat the bark off of the trees and the smaller tender branches. Often they will eat all the way around the tree (girdle the tree). Once they do that the tree will die. You most likely wont see the damage until spring when the snow melts. Rabbits dont typically tunnel around under the snow so you will see the damage that's being done above the snow...

[@larryseibold4287]

@@jacobspranger1267 I really struggle with the planting depth particularly of bare root fruit trees. I would say that ​ @Melissa planted the tree about 4" below optimum, but if you look at the length of the tree below the root graft, it looks to only be about 5", so what digging process does one do to insert it in the soil? Digging only a 1"-2" deep 24" diameter "hole" does not seem right, even with a mound.

[@karlsfoodforestgarden6963]

Good to know! Thank you!

[@dufreebell]

Packed with ton of useful information. Not even a second wasted in your 19 minute video. Thanks for sharing.

[@lulabellegnostic8402]

Tip for you. Put some sacking or plastic sheeting down, and put the soil from your hole on it. That way you save the spadework of back filling the hole- you just lift & tilt the sheet.

[@Rc51gemini900]

The best video by far. No nonsense, tips, showing exactly and why, this is perfect. Thank you for taking the time.

[@phattdaddy2974]

Whoa, shes growing marshmallows too? those things are huge!

[@cannabischronicles3754]

😂 love it

[@TMesser74]

I had to look back to find the marshmallows!

[@phattdaddy2974]

@@TMesser74 It takes a trained eye.

[@moods2892]

🤣🤣

[@greygrim4630]

Pratt daddy is a loser

[@rogerspaulding6569]

Try digging a square hole. It will help to keep the roots from circling tin the hole. They grow into the corners and then into the undisturbed soil.

[@valeriya105]

That’s a myth, and it’s been proven to be false. What causes circling is what she said, adding good soil in the hole which makes the roots not want to disperse

[@rogerspaulding6569]

@@valeriya105 what is you source? I have used the square hole for years in the hard soil of Phx, Az. with proven success.

[@keith6400]

I would dig a square hole and get the grass sorted up front into the barrow,

[@Koi-on9wg]

Thanks Melissa! This was very helpful. I just received 2 of my 3 orders. Will be planting 20+ trees/bushes tomorrow.

[@DrScottBland]

I’m moving more rural this summer and cannot wait to put in some trees! I also really appreciate you showing the actual work involved and not just talking about it. Thank you ma’am!

[@paulbraga4460]

nothing compares to this method - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIeanGlqrciNqNE - blessings to all

[@paulbraga4460]

sorry, intended this one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKabfKWGa7psnNk

[@almoody7155]

We just bought two bare too pluot trees and I just happened to pick up a a power auger for a fence job. Worked nicely for digging the holes for the trees. Three holes per tree and easy to dig out the middle with the post hole digger

[@creamofthecrop2789]

I use to live in the Pacific Northwest my husband was in the military so we were at Fort Lewis....beautiful place

[@conniehawkins9459]

I grew up on Whidbey, dad was stationed there!

[@sharonodom6575]

That's amazing! Ive been in a panic, cuz my husband brought home a bunch of fruit trees(apple, plum, blueberries, grapes) & every video I've seen talks about treating the soil for at least a wk or 2wks before planting!!!!! THANK YOU!

[@ArtistCreek]

I would think 3ft MINIMUM for the circle to keep the sod from taking the nutrition the tree needs.

[@growaswego7611]

I have trees ordered to plant this weekend! This video is right on time!

[@abundantlyblessedhomestead9951]

Did you order online?

[@growaswego7611]

No, I preordered through a local nursery.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Awesome!

[@paigeburton8995]

What kind of mulch do you all use for fruit trees

[@jessicabradley8307]

Such great info here! Thanks for taking the time to lay this all out for us!

[@alysonjones1193]

Thank you Melissa! This video is so helpful for a novice like me!

[@DonnaRatliff1]

Melissa, I just found you on the web looking for knowledge on Fruit Trees & berry bushes! I was listening to your Podcast. I'm thrilled you have a U Tube channel And Most of all that your a believer in Christ. Yeah! I'm subscribed! 😊✝️🙏❤️🐾

[@paulbraga4460]

nothing compares to this method - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIeanGlqrciNqNE - blessings to all

[@paulbraga4460]

sorry, intended this one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKabfKWGa7psnNk

[@celesteessel4500]

Yesss

[@kingachybraky]

We found that purchasing trees from Orschelns, Lowes, Walmart, and Home Depot gave us a head start on our orchard. These trees are already leafed out and you can see how the branches are already set. They come in large pots with much more rooting than barefoot stock. We were careful to watch out for bugs and oddly shaped trunks and branches. We got the same tree types at half the cost of purchasing them, bare root, from mail order nurseries and got trees two and three times as tall since they did not have to fit into mailing boxes.

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

Done the same. Pears and peaches as well some where from tractor supply

[@juliosong7313]

Melissa thank you for sharing, the description is very detailed, you let me learn how to grow fruit trees. thanks again🙏

[@scubahealer]

Great info about the compost. I didn't know that.

[@alienkawala8287]

Woohoo! Ordered my trees this was helpful, in the east coast can't wait to use what I learned from you! Thanks for sharing!

[@DreamweaversHomestead]

We are planting our trees over the next 2 weeks also!

[@connieinthesun7881]

Thank you a million! So timely and helpful!! ❤

[@SpottyCreekFarm]

Write video! Very timely. We just got 8 fruit trees in to expand our orchard.

[@AgoristsAxioms]

Information rich! Thank you for being you!

[@deepak_kr6355]

Thank you for sharing this video, we all love fruit planting.

[@1302VL]

Never planted a fruit tree, this was very informative! Thanks!

[@TMesser74]

I’ve been binging on these type videos as we have several fruit trees to plant. I think the only thing I’ll do different is add wet cardboard under the mulch to prevent weeds. Thank you very much!!!!

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

Does work great and allows water thru or least stay damp

[@solsalia]

Ive been taking a master gardner class and just had a class about planting trees. This was awesome!

[@teixneves3958]

Then you have to watch Elen White method of Planting trees

[@robertsatterlee5696]

Try planting a fruit tree using the E.G.W. Blueprint tree planting method ! 20 times more growth, within 3 years, by weight ! And earlier flowering !

[@teixneves3958]

robert satterlee yes Brother Loma linda blue zone The longevity people !!!!

[@teixneves3958]

robert satterlee excellent !!!0ptimun !!

[@ebwize7048]

I am a new gardnerer. Ironically, I planted my first grafted orange and lemon tree (15gall) from a nursery this past year. After researching through all the confusing and contratidicting information out there, I decided mix 1/2 earth soil, 1/4 perlite, cocoa peat, and about 1/4 chicken compost. A couple of days later I ran into a video that said to never add chicken compost. I felt terrible, thought for sure my money labor of diggin 4 huge holes (also planted 2 avocado the same way) would be for nothing. Well I cannot believe that a year later my lemon and orange tree are thriving! I mean the fruit is small but growing quick! I live in southern CA by the way.

[@BeckeyGirard]

I love Your videos. Even though I live in Florida I always get "some" information that I can use! God Bless

[@marinakuchma6898]

Thank you for a great video. Very informative! We are going to plant today!

[@noranature]

Thank you Melissa. That are a lot nice tipps for me. You have so much experience, that's fantastic. all the best for you and your family💚

[@MelissaKNorris]

Thank you and you too!

[@Millenialknitting]

I have a tree buying problem lol I bought like 4 cherry trees and 4 blueberry bushes

[@joanneholcombe735]

Yep..u got the bug...its kinda like eating potato chips...

[@sidr2320]

I did the same thing

[@chucksinger1916]

Great video! Everything I was taught to do too One time I transplanted White pines for a hedge row Early every Spring I cut the top out and sprinkled a handful of 10-10-10 fertilizer around the drip edge Wow in maybe 5-10 years they were huge! Xmas tree growers advice!

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Any reason you do this?

[@viviennefaith830]

Done it for years in the orchids here, first time I've seen it on KZbin. Excellent.

[@jordindimples9011]

I’m so excited to start my fruit garden! I’m going to grow so many fruits, some veggies but mostly fruit

[@karlsfoodforestgarden6963]

Good advice here! I like the "compost on top" advice. Only one thing I'd add for folks in dry climates. A good thick layer, like 4-6 inches, of woodchip mulch can really cut down on watering! Just make sure not to cover that graft.

[@sshumkaer]

what is considered the graft?

[@chaz000006]

Plant young fruit trees to attract deer for easy hunting. Got it !

[@kris4786]

In Texas we planted peach, apple and persimmon. They really go for them.

[@adm6785]

We lost our 80+ yr old apple tree last year. 😢 it was MASSIVE! Blew over due to high winds. We cleared a few trees around it a few years back. Big mistake! Never in my life tasted an apple that good. We just bought some 6-7’ trees to replace it. I’ll be using your planting technique to give them a great start. 🤞 thank you!

[@FunnySurpriseToys]

Hi Melissa! Thank you! Have a beautiful day! 👍

[@sandraoconnor5700]

So helpful, love your simple no nonsense videos❤❤❤❤

[@hydniq3327]

You are just a joy to watch and good imfo too. I just bought 4 apple trees.

[@DanlowMusic]

About to dive into my 1st fruit tree. Thank you for the tips!

[@hloeb62]

Excellent video. You prevented me from taking some bad advice. I will be sharing the information with my sister who bought trees with me. Thanks

[@sofiaborbe9713]

Thank you! this video will really help me with gardening classes.

[@UpperPacker]

I found this to be an excellent video! We are in the inland northwest and getting ready to plant out first fruit trees on the property.

[@Mercedes65]

Melissa-this video is outstanding!!! Many thanks and blessings❤

[@trust.the.process3023]

Thanks for sharing my husband and i are planning on getting some fruit trees great information.

[@daisycouchfarm2464]

This was so helpful, thank you! We have a couple fruit trees here but are planning on relocating this year and planting fruit trees and bushes are our first priority

[@paulbraga4460]

nothing compares to this method - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIeanGlqrciNqNE - blessings to all

[@paulbraga4460]

sorry, intended this one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKabfKWGa7psnNk

[@iknowlinda]

I just received both, a self-pollinating peach and cherry tree from Fedco trees that I plan to put in the ground this weekend. I live in southern Maine. I found your video really helpful, I'm going to check out more. Thanks so much.

[@kiahquinn1945]

Me too!! Mid coast Maine 😊

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

Hi did they do? Also In southern maine. Looking to add more next year may check them out

[@iknowlinda]

@@kokadjooutdoors620 they are both doing quite well. So far only the cherry tree has blossoms, but the peach may flower later in the season. They're still quite small but thriving. You will most likely need some kind of protection from deer for the first few years, as we did.

[@GettingToHeaven]

Thanks Melissa for the video. VERY, VERY helpful!!!

[@carljorgensen2813]

Very good and interesting Melissa. Another educated video I’ll have to try it when it gets warmer..Thank you

[@MelissaKNorris]

Glad you think so!

[@tilmonhensley443]

Good Video Melissa, Makes me so proud to see a young women out doors working like this. instead of doing drugs. Smart girl proud of you. PEACE FROM N.C.

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I have just gotten my 1st flowers on my peach tree, im so excited.

[@abdelrahmanaboelnasr5386]

Wow! I love it 😍

[@hivolco151]

Happy to have found your channel as I am in the PNW and most channels I watch are in the East... so different climate zones. Also I just purchased a bunch of bareroot Apple trees and was looking for some advice... THANK YOU!!! :D

[@paulbraga4460]

nothing compares to this method - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIeanGlqrciNqNE - blessings to all

[@paulbraga4460]

sorry, intended this one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKabfKWGa7psnNk

[@IlkinKarachay]

I love this misty weather

[@mussim2919]

Awesome video and awesome farm! I just love it! Keep more coming please! Thank you!

[@paulbraga4460]

best method for planting trees - kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKabfKWGa7psnNk

[@julieford-mount6791]

This was super helpful! Thank you

[@kristinraabe6887]

My trees just came in. Great timing!

[@MelissaKNorris]

🤩

[@tedkuc3884]

I do really like Your attitude toward Your job and Your idea. -Thank You

[@matthewhoward8927]

Melissa you have a great looking property. Living in Australia looks a bit cold to me. I can't even imagine what it is like when it begins to snow.

[@mainenorthwoodshunter3265]

Great video, very helpful. Thank you!

[@HeatherNaturaly]

I had 100% success at keeping deer out of my orchard by putting up bird suet feeders with a cake of Irish Spring soap in them, original scent. I had one by each tree.

[@debbiehenri345]

I've heard that's good at keeping cats away, didn't know it works on deer. Just bought some to try it - as the trees look ridiculous with a load of tinsel all over them (which works okay on Scottish deer, but brings up an environmental issue when it starts to disintegrate). Thanks for the suggestion!

[@karlsfoodforestgarden6963]

Yeah, but then you get leprechauns! 😂

[@michaelg8642]

my orchard is my hunting plot. problem solved lol

[@Swenthorian]

Thank you!! So much golden information in one video.

[@montanaplease]

I live in the northwest also and just planted two apples and two peach trees. I did everything with 8 foot T posts and wire that’s 7 foot on each side. What you’re saying is once the tree gets two years older so you don’t have to have any protection around them because we have a lot of elk and deer and I figure they go right after that fruit also.

[@mikethompson5549]

Great presentation. Great advice❤❤

[@conspiracyfifteensixteenth5756]

Love fruit tree's.. Cool Video!

[@GraftingTactick]

Great video, very informative, Thanks for sharing👍

[@sarad2083]

I just learned you are from Washington state as well 🤩 (I'm from Vancouver WA) It's so helpful to see a similar climate since the PNW blesses us with so much rain 🤪 I sometimes think can we accomplish everything in all this rain but your videos reassure me that we can and will 😁

[@Thankful_.]

Another helpful video! Thank you ☀️🙂

[@beerbuzz62]

Thank you,great video again

[@MrFboccia]

Love this

[@cruisernet]

The content of your videos is very good love your videos. Lots of useful information thanks for sharing 👍

[@MelissaKNorris]

Thank you!

[@ttwaldron4683]

@@MelissaKNorris that's true

[@easy_english86]

It's awesome, I loved it.

[@yongojo]

아름다운 생각을 가졌어요~~🥰💕

[@debbizzacres9530]

Great video. Thank you!

[@WMHhomestead]

Thanks so much for the info! We have killed several bare root trees but we are trying again in a few weeks!

[@MsFarmer567]

Thank you, you’ve been very helpful, for toward understanding how to started. God Bless❤😊🎉🙏

[@ashleyjones1761]

Your soil is so gorgeous I can't wait until I get mine like that.

[@zanesutherland406]

Very informative video!

[@pbandjelly1311]

I loved seeing you knock the dirt off of the clumps! I wasn't sure if I was a crazy person, having done the same last year (it was my first year growing)! It looked like some quality soil, so it made sense to me!

[@Delekham]

I have heard, that turning the grass towards the soil and the dirt towards the "sun" will allow the earthworms to nibble on the decaying grass. Now another "theory" involves putting a 1 1/2" PVC pipe below the roots (Digging goes way deeper) add some gravel, then add the pipe at a 60 deg +/- and fill in the hole (As per her instructions) leaning the tree towards (a wee bit) your prevailing winds. Fill the pvc pipe with water and top water also. The roots will go toward the moisture. Do this a few times a week with the PVC and once a week top watering once a week. I watch way too many KZbin Videos...lol

[@schuggy4408]

Excellent video

[@ervin7410]

Great information, nice on the eyes

[@theorangetreehomestead6660]

Remember to only bury the trunk to just past the root crown. I buried one of mine too low and we got a little bit of trunk rot.

[@mattalderton3723]

Good video thanks for sharing

[@o.o1163]

Tulle is the best and most cost effective💐😊. Thank you for sharing🙂

[@mikemcpherson6492]

Awesome

[@habibullah8317]

Thank u for detail explanation

[@user-wu9tt1te9r]

Very useful information!!!

[@josephf7720]

Very good. I’ve planted many fruit and nut trees. Was taught to dig a $10. hole for a $5. tree

[@LS-sg8rb]

Very helpful!

[@Julian-zy1em]

Your place looks so awesome... Godspeed.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Thank you!

[@sibelb4152]

We like to dig a deep hole, about 2'x2'. Lots of dirt comes out of the hole. At the bottom of the hole, the sod is thrown in upside down and broken into clumps. It will slowly compost. Then we add the lighter soil that was nearer the surface when we were digging. We have to backfill a bit before we can then put in the tree. Then we keep filling with the lighter soil until roots are covered, and we end the backfilling process with the heavier clayish soil that came out of the bottom of the hole. That way the roots have an easier medium to expand through, and the heavier soil on the top helps to conserve moisture. That was the advice that came with our first trees from St. Lawrence Nursery and we've just stuck to it. :)

[@cheaputhyvan4705]

Thanks for sharing

[@KC-jq9kw]

I have always gotten them 3 to 6 feet tall and gotten fruit the same year or the next year. I dig I large wide hole and put in chicken/hog manure which is mixed with hay, straw, and wood chips, I then have mulch, then I put dirt around the plant. This gives the tree a huge boost for many years to get its roots going. I then put some manure around the tree each fall for the winter.

[@munirasultana2313]

Great Tips 👌

[@Woody8168]

The way you jump on the shovel is cute

[@JMTZ15]

Thanks for the info

[@danieldu5298]

very helpful ! subscribed.