Receiving Your Trees:
If the trees arrive and you are unable to plant them immediately, store them in a cool dry place. If they need to be there any length of time you will need to do one of the following. Either of these methods will keep the trees for up to 6 weeks.

1. Dig a shallow trench and lay the plants on their side with the roots in the trench. Cover the roots with
moist soil. This is called “heeling in”. Make sure the soil stays moist. Avoid exposing roots to frozen temperatures and never let the roots dry out.

2. Use a large tub or trash can and cover the roots of the trees with peat moss or soil and keep roots damp.

Planting Your Trees:

1. Use shovel to dig hole. The hole should be large enough to accommodate the roots without crowding.
2. Any very long or broken roots should be trimmed at this time. Make sure the hole is not too deep.
3. Place the tree in hole to see how it fits. The tree should be placed so that it is even or just above the original soil line on the trunk.
4. Fill the hole with good top soil or the native soil that was taken out of the hole. Note: If you have red clay dirt, add 1/3 peat moss and it will make a fine soil for the tree to grow in.
5. Rake the soil up and around the tree covering the roots up to the original soil line on the trunk.
6. While you are filling the hole, you an use 1-2 gallons of water to wash the soil in and around the roots. Tap the soil lightly to remove any air pockets. Round the soil off lightly.
7. Once the tree has been planted, a good layer of mulch will finish the job.

Watering:
After planting, do not water again before new growth begins unless the soil seems dry. The roots are not actively growing at this time and soggy soil will invite rot. When the new growth begins, let the top inch of soil dry and then give the plant a thorough soaking. When the first season growth is abundant and plants are growing well in midsummer, plants will need 2 inches of rainfall per week. If rain is low compensate by watering. Watering is especially important during the fruit development stages.

Fertilization:
Apply 1 pound of 10-10-10 in a complete circle, 15 inches out from the trees in early April. Another application of 10-10-10 may be made June 1st. The second year this amount should be doubled.

Pruning:
Remember the following tips on pruning:
1. Prune to remove dead and diseased wood.
2. Prune to correct structural problems and to create strong scaffold branches.
3. Prune to open up the tree and allow light to reach the leaves, buds and fruit.
4. Prune to remove undesirable and improperly placed branches.
5. Prune to maintain tree size and shape.

Special Planting Instructions For Figs,
Pomegranate and Japanese Persimmons

Trees should be planted on the East side of building or east side of an object so that it breaks the wind from the North and West. Bank dirt above ground around tree about 18 inches leaving until April 1st. During summer mulch plants with pine straw or other good mulch.