Proper planting is key to growing healthy fruit trees, pecan trees and other nut plants

Fruit trees, pecan trees, and other nut plants can be grown with great success with relatively few problems. However, I am often asked how to control pecan scab, peach leaf flakes, burs, and poor production.

The healing answer is to apply the Sick Tree Treatment – expose the root torch and apply any recommended organic supplements.

The preventive answer is to plant the trees and vines properly in the first place. Even more important than with ornamental trees, fruit and nut trees should be planted high. Bare-root trees should also be planted so that the torch is above the ground. Fruit trees are known to be planted too deeply, and this causes stress that is directly related to insect pests and disease problems. The swelling or “dogleg” at the bases of fruit trees is the graft, usually 8 to 10 inches above the beginning of the roots where the torch is located.

Before starting to dig, the actual height of the root ball must be determined. Most trees, in containers and in balls and burlap, have excess soil on top of the real root ball. Burlap and this excess soil must be removed.

Now measure the width and the height of the actual root ball. Dig a wide, rough-sided hole two to three times wider than the root of the tree, especially at the surface of the soil. Square holes work too. It is important that there is rough, well-aerated soil around the new root ball to prevent the roots from circling in the hole.

Burlap and excess soil and mulch should be removed from the top of the tree before measuring the height for planting.(Howard Garrett / special article)

Digging a small hole with smooth sides is a serious mistake. The width of the bottom of the hole is not as important as the top of the hole. The depth of the hole should be a little less than the height of the ball. Measure, don’t guess.

The top of the root ball should be about 5 cm higher than the ground after planting. The bottom of the root ball should sit on firm, undisturbed soil. Digging too much and backfilling under the ball can cause the tree to settle, a common cause of root flares being too deep in the ground. If fill under the ball is inevitable, before planting, tamp the soil to make it compact. Do not thin the tree, wrap the trunk, or peg the tree.

The next step after the correct planting is regular feeding with organic products.

February: Aerate the root zone or spray hydrogen peroxide in a 50/50 mixture with water at the rate of 1 gallon per 1,000 square feet. Apply organic fertilizer, dry molasses, and whole milled cornmeal at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Apply lava sand, azomite, and greensand at 80 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

June: Apply organic fertilizer at 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet and lava sand at 40 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

September: Apply organic fertilizer at 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

Spray Garrett Juice at least monthly and use other additives such as Sul-Po-Mag as indicated by soil tests. Next week we’ll discuss the non-toxic spray program that really works.

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