Planting and Growing in the Autumn

This time of the year can seem to be so remote and distant from next years growing season, what with winter in between. The constant changing weather and never two days the same, can make us feel that there is no point in getting stuck in to the garden, but how wrong can we be. A number of our days are quite balmy for this time of year, and picking the time between 10am and 2pm when the sun is at its zenith can be productive.

 

The autumn is the best time to plant fruit trees such as: Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Pear, Plum and Fig to name but a few. The soil is still warm and this gives the roots of a newly planted tree the opportunity to develop its root system further before the colder winter weather arrives. Also all the times we have stated we would like an Apple tree or Plum tree and have never carried out our wish. There is nothing better than letting nature produce flower buds, then the flowers with their heavenly scent, the fruit forming and slowly and surely filling out, and ripening ready for harvest time. The best feeling is picking your own fruit, in my case cooking apples, giving some to family and neighbours, using many of them ourselves, enjoying the various desserts that one can make with cooking apples. They taste magnificent and are given free by nature, life is wonderful. Trees can be productive for 50 years, what a legacy.

 

When planting fruit trees the hole that is dug for the root ball needs to be twice the size in width, but about the same depth as the root ball. Tease the roots out before planting, place the root ball in the middle of the hole, on top of a small mound of earth, this is the time the 2nd person comes into play holding both the tree and the stake in the required position, now check that they are in the right place, in relationship to each other. The time to change the position of the stake, or to turn the tree is now, from the best view point and from other angles check their suitability in relation to each other, will the stake look right and will it support the tree firmly in position, or is the stake in the way of the tree? Once right you can force the stake into the ground with a suitable heavy hammer, and back fill the tree with a mix of 2 to 1 of TOP SOIL and OLUS COMPOST, ensuring the mix is pushed around the roots leaving no air pockets. Firm well with your heel around the stake and roots and fill the hole ending with a slight mound around the trunk of the tree. Water well remember an inch of water will penetrate 6-8 inches. Tie in the tree and the stake to give support from the start.

 

At OLUS we supply PAS100 COMPOST in small bags, bulk bags, and loose loads, perfect as an ORGANIC MULCH to enrich beds and borders let the earth worms take the mulch down over the winter months great as a slow release ORGANIC COMPOST, to mix with your soil when planting trees, shrubs and roses.

TOP SOIL is supplied in bulk bags, or loose loads, is there a better time to lift the levels of our beds and borders, in preparation for next years gardening? Order now.