Cultural Requirements Soil and Position

• Well drained soils - will not tolerate heavy or waterlogged soil
• Improve soil by use of compost or peat
• Open sunny position
• Best to plant in June / July when trees are dormant
• DO NOT let roots dry out prior to planting
• When planting spread roots out carefully over slightly mounded soil at bottom of hole
• Soak in Tui Seaweed Solution prior planting

Feeding

• Use a slow release fertiliser around roots at planting
• When growth begins (spring) apply general garden fertiliser  or fruit tree and citrus fertiliser at rates of 200g-300g per tree as a top dressing
• Water well again after feeding

Watering

• Ensure soil does not dry out after planting (only if a dry spell follows planting – do not overwater as root rot could result)
• Spring - summer water regularly to ensure plant does not dry out while establishing in it's first year
• Water regularly during fruit development for juicy fruit 

Pruning

• Aim to regulate growth, allow light in, encourage flowers and fruit
• Generally prune in winter but can be trimmed late summer if required
• In years 1 and 2 prune hard to make sturdy framework and shape the tree
• When planting select 3 or 4 strong branches and reduce by 2/3 to outwards facing bud. Remove all other growth

Once established, prune according to the fruiting habit as outlined below:

Apples

• Bear fruit on spurs and 2 year old + laterals
• Allow lateral branches to develop uncut until buds form
• Then trim back about 2/3 each year
• Thin out some if tree becomes overcrowded

Apricot

• Also bear on laterals and spurs
• Treat as for apples

Cherries

• Fruit on spurs on 2 year old + wood
• Require little pruning, apart from trimming and thinning
• Prune in autum

Peaches and nectarines

• Bear fruit on laterals produced previous summer
• Laterals fruit for one season only
• Prune to produce new laterals each year
• Prune back to encourage new growth but don’t cut out all previous year’s growth

Plums

• Bear fruit on 1 and 2 year old laterals
• Require little pruning
• Thin and trim back as required to maintain tree at reasonable size