Planting Tips

Winter is the best time to plant deciduous fruit trees as they are dormant and have shed their leaves for the season. Deciduous fruit trees grow well when planted in a sunny spot with at least six hours of sunlight each day, and soil that is both well-draining and rich in organic matter.

Deciduous fruit trees can be grown both in a container or in the ground depending on their size. While planting in a container offers more convenience and mobility, most fruit trees will eventually outgrow their containers and will need to be relocated to the ground. We love ballerina apples, dwarf peaches and dwarf nectarines for growing in pots.

When planting in containers, choose a large pot to give your plant room to grow. Plant into Kings Container Mix as it contains a wetting agent to help maintain moisture in the soil.

When planting in the ground, break up the existing soil and add Kings Compost at a 50:50 ratio. Mix in Kings Sheep Pellets, Kings Citrus & Fruit Tree Fertiliser and SaturAid, and water in well. If you have heavier clay soil, sprinkle Gypsum ClayBreaker at the bottom of the planting hole to improve the soil condition.

After planting, insert hardwood stakes on either side of the tree and secure with jute tie to provide support and stability as your fruit tree grows.

Our Top Varieties

With so many different varieties to choose from, there’s a deciduous fruit tree to suit every preference. Each variety has its own strengths, flavours, and culinary purposes, so here are a few of our favourites that will be hitting our stores this winter.

Care

Watering

Watering fruit trees is essential, especially in the fi rst year after planting. This allows the roots to get well established, and ensures stronger, healthier plants. Water slowly so the water can sink down into the roots, rather than running off the top of the soil surface.

Feeding

Monthly feeds with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster are essential from spring through autumn to encourage root growth and increased microbial activity in the soil. When planted in the ground, regular applications of Kings Sheep Pellets and Kings Citrus & Fruit Tree Fertiliser from spring through autumn will help with soil conditioning. When planted in containers, Kings Slow Release Citrus Food can be applied every three months to encourage strong roots and a healthy immune system.

Spraying

A regular spray program will help prevent pests and diseases, and keep your deciduous fruit trees growing well all year long. We recommend spraying with Grosafe FreeFlo Copper in winter and again prior to bud burst when the buds are swelling up, as a preventative measure for fungal diseases. During winter, spray with Grosafe Enspray 99 Oil to kill overwintering insects and prevent any future eggs from hatching.

Pruning

Mid-winter is the best time to prune your deciduous fruit trees, pruning up to a third of the total growth each year. Prune your trees on a fine day, removing all diseased and damaged wood, and any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other. To create an open vase shape, remove branches that are growing back into the centre of the tree, and use small cuts at an angle about 15mm above outward-facing buds. This will promote growth away from the centre of the tree. If there are cuts above 15mm in thickness, seal with a pruning paste such as Grosafe Organic Pruning Paste.