The Old Vicarage B&B, Little Ouse

One of the bare root fruit trees bought two years ago lost its deer protector over the winter. It only took the few nights before it was noticed for them to shred the bark and kill the main growing shoot.

Although, I prefer to plant in the autumn onwards, I have taken the chance on a pot grown cherry (Stella) to take its place. This is a self fertile variety. The only downside, is that it does not like wind. However finding a wind free position in the flat fenland is quite a challenge. As someone once said, it doesn’t matter which way you face in the fens, the wind will always be blowing in your face!

I dug the hole twice the size of the pot that the cherry tree came in. I was fortunate in that the vegetable and fruit garden is a a few feet away. I heaped all the spoil in here and mixed in the same volume of compost.

The tree had been grown so the main trunk was a couple of inches from the side of the pot. This is good news, as it allowed me to hammer the stake directly in the hole without impacting the rootball. The heavy winds here are mainly westerlies. so I positioned the stake on that side and planted the tree the opposite side, so if the tree needs the benefit of the stake it can use it.

I then stated to place some of my 50/50 mix of soil and compost in the bottom of the hole and firmed it. I placed the pot in. a few time to make sure everything lined up and the pot was at the same level as the ground. I then poured a watering can of water in the hole. I find this helps at the base of the plant. Especially when planting at the wrong time of year.

I had previously soaked the rootball and it just slid out of the pot. I then placed in the hole and lined the tree up against the stake. as mentioned as the stake is not there to grow against , just to stop any wind rock. After which, I continued to backfill the 50/50 mix into the hole, making sure as I heeled it in with the back of my boot that both stake and tree remained perfectly upright.

The last three jobs were:

1. Tie the tree to the stake using a tree tie.
2. Water the tree in, pouring another watering can of water on it.
3. Now the tree is slightly lower, now it is in the ground, gently pull the branches down and take the growing tip from each. This will aid with it fruit production next year.