Plant of the Month: September
Fruit Trees & Soft Fruit
Our Plants of the Month are fruit trees. Apple, pear and plum trees are in the garden centre now. You can plant them now for a ripe harvest next summer. The soil is warm enough to encourage their roots, and autumnal rain should make the ground easier to work.
You can grow apples even if you don’t have much space, since a tree can be trained along a sunny wall or fence. It's then sheltered and can soak up warmth from the wall or fence to help it thrive.
Plant your fruit trees and bushes in a sunny, sheltered position to increase the amount of fruit. Always check the eventual height and spread of any trees and shrubs to make sure they have enough room to thrive. Ask for advice in the garden centre to aim for the right growing conditions.
When planting a tree or shrub, give it a long soak first in a bucket of water. Add some slow-acting fertiliser to the planting hole to get it off to a good start. If you have heavy soil, add horticultural grit to the hole to help drainage.
Make sure young trees are supported with stakes. Drive the stake into the hole first, having checked the position in relation to the roots. Once planted, firm your new plant in to stop it moving around. Remember to keep it watered in dry spells.
