Gardening With Gutner: Planting Apple Trees, Blueberry Bushes
Planting Apple Trees
1. Check the soil pH. It should be in the 6.2-6.6 range.
2. Add organic matter to the planting hole – peat moss or compost.
3. Plant bud union 4"-5" above the ground to keep the tree dwarf.
4. Put wood chips or bark mulch down to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
5. Plant Dwarf Trees for greater productivity and ease of pruning. The tree will begin fruiting in 2 years.
6. Plant Scab Resistant Varieties ~
a. Scab is a fungus that is found in the spring in the Eastern US.
b. At Parlee Farms, two scab resistant varieties that we have are Liberty (similar to Macintosh) and Crimson Crisp (a recently released highly rated variety).
7. At Parlee Farms, we have over 20 varieties of dwarf apple trees covering 14 acres. The list of our most popular varieties can be found on our web site.
Watch: Gardening with Gutner: Planting Apple Trees
Planting Blueberry Bushes
1. Check the soil pH. It should be in the 4.6-5.0 range.
2. Do not plant too deep. The top of the bush should be at the same level as the bush was in the nursery container.
3. Add organic matter to the planting hole – peat moss or compost.
4. Use woodchips or bark mulch around the bush to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
5. Trim back the top of the bush to balance the top with the root system.
6. Patience is the key with blueberry bushes. It can take 10 years for a blueberry bush to reach full maturity.
7. At Parlee Farms, we have over 8 acres of blueberry bushes. Some varieties that we have at Parlee Farms –
a. Early Season ~ Bluetta, Patriot
b. Mid-Season ~ Blueray, Toro
c. Late Season ~ Nelson, Chandler
Watch: Gardening With Gutner Planting Blueberry Bushes
