Planting Guide:
Keep roots moist and protected until you are able to plant. The best time to do so is before the plant leafs out in the spring, or in mid- to late June after it has finished rooting in the pot.
Select a site. Most fruit trees and berry bushes require full sun and well-drained soil. (Exceptions such as currants, elderberries, and aronia can handle part shade and heavier soils.)
Dig a hole as deep and about twice as wide as the pot or roots. Set aside the soil for backfilling. Use upturned sod as a berm to hold water. Loosen the soil around the bottom and sides of the hole.
Turn the pot on its side and gently remove the plant. If planting bare root, keep the roots covered until you are ready to set them in the hole and begin backfilling. Place in the hole at the same depth as it is growing in the pot, or where the soil line is evident if planting bare root, and check that it remains straight as you backfill. Fill the space around the root ball or roots with the soil that was removed from the hole. Press down firmly around the top of the plant with your heel; this helps to eliminate any air pockets.
Water in really well. Provide about 5 gallons of water per tree and 3 gallons of water per bush. Water slowly to allow the soil time to absorb it. If the soil level sinks, add more soil or compost.
Top dress with amendments and organic material, such as manure or compost. Acid-loving plants like blueberries and lingonberries may require a sulfur amendment or peat moss to bring down the pH of the soil. Mulch with cardboard, hay, and/or wood chips to hold moisture and suppress weeds. Alternatively, prep the site ahead of time in the fall by applying any amendments, compost, and mulch directly on the ground to smother grasses and weeds. When you are ready to plant, remove the mulch and dig a hole, allowing compost and amendments to incorporate into the soil. Reapply the mulch, keeping it away from the trunks of fruit trees to prevent rotting.
Prune out any dead or broken branches, but annual pruning is not necessary until the plant has begun bearing.
Continue to water throughout the first growing season—at least five gallons per plant per week. After the first season, your plant will be established enough to no longer require regular watering.
If deer are a concern in your area, you will want to provide fencing or other deterrents for your young plants.
Wrap a screen or plastic guard around the base of your fruit trees, especially going into fall and winter, to protect against rodent damage. Remove during the growing season to prevent moisture and weed build-up.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor!