Fruit trees in the lower south

**walshevak** 6/28/2016, 5:10 pm

I'm looking for opinions on when to plant fruit trees in the heat ridden lower south. I just bought 2 pears and 1 plum about 5 ft tall. I'm debating on whether to plant them right away or wait until fall to avoid the worst of the summer heat. I have space to put them at the edge of some pine trees, feed them, and keep them watered through the summer and plant in the fall. Or I can plant them in their recommended full sun location within the next week or so. FYI, my soil is almost pure sand and will have to augmented with peat moss and black kow to even attempt to keep them watered. Oh and yes, I know I will need another plum for full pollination.

Kay

**AtlantaMarie** 6/28/2016, 5:37 pm

Kay, are you going to have time to keep them well-watered right now? If not, I'd say hold out for fall.

CapeCoddess 6/29/2016, 12:32 pm

My first thought was were they in full sun at the nursery? Maybe you could call a nursery and ask them what to do?

I hesitantly planted an apple in the heat at end of summer last year. I watered it weekly and deeply and it's fine...well, except for these horrible leafmunching caterpillars we're having here this year.
Mad

CC

**Scorpio Rising** 6/29/2016, 8:28 pm

Kay, with your soil type, I would be hesitant to put them in the ground now. Even here! That is a good suggestion, to talk to the folks at the nursery. Local?

**walshevak** 7/4/2016, 4:58 pm

Well, the question is now a thing of the past. My son volunteered to plant them and I can't turn down that kind of help. I found a source of year old, well rotted, horse manure at $7 for 2 cu ft bags. Bought 2 and we lined the big holes with it and some homemade compost well mixed into the sand. Watered deeply on Sat and then yesterday we had a real frog strangler storm. I'll just make sure they are watered every day for the next month and hope. But the trees were only $5 ea so not much will be lost if they don't make it.

Kay

**Scorpio Rising** 7/4/2016, 6:58 pm

Never turn down free back breaking labor, I always say! Frog strangler.... rofl

Glad ya got a well timed rain!

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Fruit trees in the lower south

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