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Thebest soils for growing fruittrees are medium
textured, friable well-drained soils that are deep with no
hard pan and high in organic matter. They have good
structure and have been adequately limed and fertilized at
least two years prior to new orchard establishment.
Apples can be grown successfully on sandy loam, loam,
and silt loam soils. Most clonal dwarfing apple rootstocks
do not perform well on course textured sandy soils.
Loamy sand soils should be avoided especially where
adequate irrigation is not feasible. Winter injury problems
in peach trees appear to be more severe on soils having
very sandy subsoils.
Good subsoil aeration and drainage are essential for
good growth and longevity of fruit trees. Soils that have
high water tables or poor internal drainage resulting from
compacted soil layers should not be used for planting
sites. Avoid planting trees in areas where surface or
subsoil water accumulates and remains for several days
following heavy rains or irrigation. It is difficult or
impossible to establish and maintain a good orchard on
poorly drained soil sites.
It is highly recommended that a soil excavation pit
be completed two years prior to the establishment of an
orchard on a potential site. Several holes should be dug
down through the topsoil and subsoil to look for shale,
clay layers, or hardpans caused by excessive soil
compaction.
Soils to be used for new plantings of tree fruits
should be adequately limed and fertilized on the basis of
soil tests taken of both the topsoil and subsoil two years
prior to establishment. Following lime and fertilizer
application, orchard soils should be sub-soiled to a depth
of 2-3 feet in two directions well prior to sod
establishment and planting. Sub-soiling serves to break
up hardpans and help to move lime and nutrients down
into the root zone. This practice is best done after a dry
period, as it will fracture the soil structure more
efficiently.
Calcium.Inadequate calcium levels in apple fruit are
associated with bitter pit and corking, and therefore it is
very important that soil calcium levels be given more
consideration than in past years. Soil and leaf tissue
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samples should be analyzed and, where necessary,
corrective lime or gypsum treatments should be applied.
Planting Hole.In the base of the planting hole,
apply one to two pounds of calcitic limestone and mix
thoroughly with soil. Backfill before planting fruit trees.
Use the lower rate on coarse-textured sand and sandy loam
soils. Use the higher rate on loam and silt loam soils.
This practice helps increase calcium in the tree and helps
reduce cork and bitter pit in apples while improving cold
hardiness in peaches.
NOTE: Only calcitic limestone should be used on
soils that test medium or higher for magnesium.
Never use high magnesium or dolomitic lime on soils
that test medium or high in magnesium content.
Permanent Sod Establishment. Seed areas to a
permanent sod cover at least 6 months in advance of
planting trees. Hard and tall fescue cultivars are the
preferred species. Fall is the best time to establish new
sod, with August 15 through September 15 as your target
seeding dates. This permanent sod should be left in the
row middles when planting new trees. In the tree row,
either plant through killed sod, or disk a 5 to 10 foot
wide planting strip for the tree rows. Killed sod remaining
in the tree row has several benefits such as suppressing
summer annual weed growth, maintain organic matter,
and assists in water retention and infiltration during the
first season of establishment. Use recommended herbicides
to control weeds under newly planted trees.
Permanent sod covers in new orchard middles help
prevent soil compaction, decrease surface water runoff,
increase soil-water infiltration rates, minimize wind and
water erosion, maintain or increase soil organic matter
content, conserve plant nutrients, and make it easier to
move sprayer and other equipment in the orchard during
wet periods. Sod middles should be mowed frequently
during the growing season to prevent grass cover from
competing with the trees for moisture during drought
periods. It is very important to treat sod middles to
eliminate broadleaf weeds which not only compete with
trees for the attention of bees during bloom, broadleaf
weeds harbor harmful insects and act as virus vectors in
orchard settings.
Soil Management for Established
Plantings
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Soil management in established plantings of apples
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