Oct
3
2015

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Starting an Orchard in Vermont, Part Four: Planting Complete

by Tara

I am pleased and relieved to report: all eighteen fruit trees are safely tucked into their new homes! I've brushed their bark with white milk paint to prevent sun scald, wrapped the base of their trunks with mesh to prevent boring insects, pinned odiferous garlic clips to the ends of their branches to prevent deer from eating their tender twigs, and put a sprinkling ("like parmesan cheese," David said) of pelletized lime around them to add calcium to the soil. Phew!

Tara Adding Planting Mix to Tree

This spring, we'll spread a load of compost around them, but in the meantime, we just need to water them and hope these babies make it through winter!

Fruit Tree Planted
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4 comments

Garlic! Thank you for mentioning the garlic. I lost a new apple tree last year to the deer. I don't know why they liked that particular tree. Garlic might have saved it. I'll use this tip when I replace it in the spring.
Posted by Robin Follette on October 27th, 2015 at 2:40 AM
Sure thing! I hope garlic clips work out for both of us. :)
Posted by Tara on October 28th, 2015 at 2:57 PM
I would not rely on garlic alone to keep the deer away,
put the garlic clips on large wire cages.
Posted by Anne on October 30th, 2015 at 8:40 AM
Good call, Anne. Making cages is now on my to-do list! :)
Posted by Tara on November 5th, 2015 at 3:58 PM
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