HOW TO PLANT A FRUIT TREE

1 FIRST soak the tree in a bucket of water, then dig a hole 1m in diameter and no deeper than the pot the tree is in (or the depth of the roots if it is bare). Fork over the bottom of the hole to improve drainage, but don’t add any compost or manure.

2 REMOVE the tree from its container and position it so the top of the compost round the roots is slightly above ground level.

3 NOW you can backfill the soil, creating a shallow cone around the tree and firming it well with your feet. Complete backfilling and then level off.

4 STAKE the tree firmly and secure it with a tree tie or rope. If the tree is in a windy spot, placing the stake at 45 degrees to the trunk will provide extra support.

5 WATER with at least a full can. Continue to water monthly for the coming year and weekly if there is a drought. Finally, mulch all the bare soil with a good layer of garden compost and replace this mulch every spring.