8 Tips for Growing the Best Fruit Trees Possible

The day before you plant, you should pre-water the hole. Soak the hole in water to get all the soil really moist and wet. You don’t want to make mud, though. Not only does this making planting easier, but it lets the roots expand into the ground easier as well.

When you go to plant your tree, make a small mound of top soil at the bottom of the hole. Place the bulk of the tree on this mound and then drape the roots down the side. This will give your roots even growth and keep it well nourished.

For areas that are prone to strong gusts of wind on a regular basis, you may want to counteract that when you first plant. Put the tree at a slight angle, facing into the direction the wind normally blows. That way, even if the wind does push your tree over, it will just go back to being straight! You could also use stakes if you want a more controlled solution.

If this is your first time planting a fruit tree, it can be hard to gauge how much space you’ll need. The best idea is to ask the local nursery, but if you forgot, then the general rule is at least eight feet apart. This varies depending on the tree, but eight feet usually lets the roots spread out without getting tangled in each other.

For yards that have mole and gopher problems, you may want to plant your tree in a basket of chicken wire. The roots will still be able to spread out, but it will help prevent pests from chewing up the bottom of your tree. Line the hole with the chicken wire and plant the tree like normal.

After your tree is in the ground and buried, you want to water it whenever the top two inches get dry. This is vital for new trees, but as time goes on, you can water less and less. The root system should grow and get the water it needs.

Let your tree grow for a while before you decide to get fertilizer or not. If the tree seems to be strong and healthy, don’t add fertilizer. It will just mess with your mojo. But if it seems to be struggling, get some nitrogen-rich fertilizer and add to the soil in early spring. If that doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to consult a professional.

Some fruit trees are self-pollinators while others need cross-pollination. Know which one you have. If you have self-pollinating trees like nectarines and peaches, you don’t need to worry about bringing pollinators into the yard. If you have cross-pollinators like apples and pears, you will want bees and butterflies to come to the garden. Plant flowers or make other plans to get them to come and pollinate for you.

8 Tips for Successfully Growing Fruit Trees Indoors

I love growing fruit trees indoors, but be aware that not all fruit trees can be. For one, you’ll most likely have to grow a dwarf variety of the tree. Also, citrus or exotic fruits tend to grow best indoors. Try growing fruits like lemon, lime, or even bananas.

One of the most important aspects of growing a fruit tree indoors is to make sure the pot is high quality. You want a planter with good drainage; the soil needs to be well taken care of to have a healthy fruit tree inside. If you already have a cute pot with bad drainage, you can plant the tree in a well-drained pot and then stick that in the nicer pot.

For the soil, do NOT just grab some dirt from out in the garden. That’s not going to work for an indoor fruit tree. You want light and airy soil. It drains well and maintains the nutrients your plant needs. If possible, get soil with perlite mixed in because that’s even better for the tree.

Plant placement is also essential for a healthy and vital fruit tree indoors. You want to put it somewhere it can get bright and direct light. Most people agree southern or western exposure is the best.

Never let the soil dry out for an indoor fruit tree. That will always be detrimental to the plant. Especially if you have a citrus tree, you want to do regular watering so the soil is always nice and moist. Don’t put the tree in front of a vent or else it can quickly dry out the plant and make it wither.

Because the tree is in an isolated environment, you are in charge of making sure it gets all the nutrients it needs. That means you’ll probably need to add fertilizer to the pot. Once a month, add a chelated mix of manganese, iron, and zinc. Most fertilizers have these minerals.

If you pay attention, you’ll realize that most fruit trees thrive in humid environments. Because of that, I suggest getting a humidifier for around the plant. If you don’t want to do that, then consistently mist the plant. Either option works.

For best results, you’re probably going to want to hand-pollinate your indoor fruit tree. Brush the stamens of an open blossom and repeat this around the whole plant. It will help increase how much fruit is produced.

10 Plants That Even Children can Grow

Lavender. This is one of my favorite plants. Not only does it smell great and can be used in so many ways, but the color is also beautiful. Lavender is really hardy, so even your young kids can grow them without much fear of it dying.

Aloe. This plant can be grown outside, but it also flourishes well inside in a container. That makes it ideal for kids. They can keep the aloe succulent in their room and take care of it.  The leaves are a bit spikey, so make sure your kids know that and handle accordingly.

Christmas Cactus. This is an incredibly gorgeous plant that doesn’t require much upkeep. It blossoms in a few different colors including red, white, and lilac. It blooms near the end of December, adding a lot of color to an otherwise gray season.

Peace Lily. This plant can grow pretty big, but you don’t need to do much to care for it. It survives in low humidity and low light. Beautiful flowers typically bloom in the summer, which makes this plant definitely worth any work you may have to put into it.

Sourwood. For a tree to grow, try a sourwood. There are a few different varieties, so choose the one that fits your budget and schedule best. It’ll be a fun project for you and your kids to take care of a tree. They’ll love seeing it grow!

Apple Tree. If your kids are just dying to grow a fruit tree, then apple may be one of the best. It’s a fruit tree so, it will require some work, but nothing that a firm schedule shouldn’t fix.

Ficus. Here’s a plant that’s great for indoor growing. It can get big, so it’s a wonderful décor for any room in need of a floor plant. Wherever you put it, just keep it there, because the ficus doesn’t like being moved and changing environments.

Day Lily. These are a colorful and simple plant to grow. They look great in the flowerbeds, in direct sight, or tucked away in a garden somewhere.

Black-eyed Susan. Your kids will love the contrasting colors of the perennial. It is a self-seeding flower, so you don’t have to do much on that front. Grow in the garden or window boxes for best results.

Hoya. This is a unique and fast-growing hanging plant. It’s great for home décor that you plan on putting on the walls or hanging from the ceiling instead of just growing on a countertop. Your kids will love the extra dimension this plant gives to the space.

5 Essentials for Growing the Best Strawberries

Strawberries are a lot like me: they’re sweet, they thrive in summer, and they love the sun! Remember that and you’ll remember to plant your strawberries in full sun. This keeps them strong and healthy, meaning the strawberries will be sweeter, bigger, and so much tastier!

6 Essential Tips to Grow Lavender- and Propagate it!

Lavender is such a fun plant to grow, but it isn’t the easiest to keep alive. That being said, don’t be afraid to grow some, especially if you’re in the climate for it. If planting in the garden, space your lavender plants about 12-18 inches apart. This will allow them to suck up the nutrients and sunlight they need to stay alive!