- Site Requirements (Soil, Sun, & Drainage)
Trees require a soil depth of 2+ ft. Rock edges are best left to native plants and Mediterranean herbs. You need 6-8+ hours of sunlight per day. Trees don’t fruit in the shade. You also need good drainage. If you dig a hole and it fills up with water, don’t plant there.
- Site Preparation & Earthworks
For sites with poor drainage or low soil depth, earthworks are essential. We’ve had great success digging “swales”, which are ditches dug along contour. We plant on the mound. This provides the tree with double the soil and good drainage. I tend to do earthworks the fall before planting. We add limestone & Compost to the mounds & mulch them right away to keep soil covered.
- Limestone (Calcium)
Lime refers to Limestone, which increases the available calcium in the soil and adjusts the pH of the soil. This makes it easier for trees to absorb essential nutrients and minerals*. Soils on Salt Spring Island are naturally acidic and need an application of limestone for fruit & nut trees to thrive. We apply Limestone in the form of Agricultural Lime (Calcium), Dolomite (Calcium + Magnesium) and Gypsum (Calcium + Sulfur). These are available from Foxglove Garden Supply or in bulk through Terralink Horticulture.
- Compost
Quality compost adds biology to the soil. Biology helps feed the plant through nutrient cycling, converting organic matter into plant accessible nutrients. Ideal compost for trees is a pile of well composted wood chips. However, a top dressing of well composted manure or worm castings works. A wood waste and fish-based compost is available from Ocean Cycle.
- Mulch
Fruit trees are at risk of drying out in the first few years. Mulch helps keep the soil moist and cool. Some use a bale of Hay or Canary Grass for each tree. Hay can be found at Foxglove Farm Supply or Mark Hughes. As hay brings weed seeds, Wood Chips are the best resource. Hire a chipping service for clearing alders, leaning and dead trees. Turn them into a valuable resource. Otherwise, Mander Trucking can provide 50 Yard drops of Alder Shavings to sites with good road access. You can also order Alder chips in bulk from Highline Environmental or in smaller loads from Forsyth Farms .
- Timing (November to March on Salt Spring Island)
The best time to plant most fruit and nut trees is when they are dormant. This is when they have no leaves, between November and March. I find most success planting trees in late fall to early winter, from November to February, because the winter rains help the trees to get settled and rooted.
- Protection
Deer destroy trees. All trees need to be protected by a fence or tree wraps. My preference is a 6ft+ fence around the planting area. I`ve seen trees individually fenced, with wide rings of stucco wire but it’s a pain to prune & manage them. For larger trees the 5ft Tree Shelters work are available from Grimo’s Nut Nursery or Wiffle Tree Nursery, The Khowutzun Freegro Tree Shelters from Seven Ravens, and the 60” Tree Pro Protector. For stakes I use 20ft rebar, 3/8” thick, cut into thirds (6ft, 8”) or 6ft bamboo or fir stakes.
- Water
Trees need water their first three to five years, and fruit trees tend to produce higher quality fruit if irrigated. Watering in July and August is the most important for trees to survive. A Young Fruit tree needs only 3.5 gallons / week but thrives with 35 gallons per week (R. Kourik). Don’t hold back on water when your trees are young. I like installing a drip irrigation system to save 50+ hours of watering a year
- Mycorrhizae Fungi
Mycorrhizae are beneficial underground fungi that form a mutually beneficial, and symbiotic, relationship with plant roots. The Mycorrhizae fungi extend the plant’s root system with their fungal network and help to more efficiently absorb water and soil nutrients. In return, the plant provides the fungi with sugars that it produces through photosynthesis. I use the inoculant Root Rescue. It is available online at Organic Gardener’s Pantry.
- Fertilizer
Organic Fertilizer increases the growth of trees and quality of fruit. If your tree has yellow or pale green leaves, or is growing slowly (less than 6-8” of growth on new wood), then fertilizer is helpful. For new gardens, I recommend: a mixed organic fertilizer, fish bone, limestone & kelp for young fruit trees. For a Mixed Organic Fertilizer I recommend an organic fertilizer such as Gaia Green 4-4-4 from Foxglove Garden Supply, the Sustane 8-2-4, or Terra Link’s Mixed Organic 6-2-7.
I personally use Steve Solomon’s fertilizer mix for the Pacific Northwest. It is a premium mix of Seed Meal, Feather Meal, Fish Bone, Soft Rock Phosphate, Agricultural Lime, and Kelp Meal
Steve Solomon’s Fertilizer Mix for Pacific Northwest
- 1 Quart Seed Meal
- 1 Pint Feather Meal
- 1 Pint Fish Meal
- 1 Quart Soft Rock Phosphate / Bone Meal
- 1 Pint Agricultural Limestone
- 1 Pint Agricultural Gypsum
- 1 Quart Kelp Meal
- 1
Your Next Steps
Now that you have the ten keys to planning your orchard’s materials, you’re ready to create a thriving, sustainable orchard on Salt Spring Island! Need help selecting trees, sourcing materials, or installing your orchard? Contact us for consulting or orchard installation services.
Get in Touch: Email us at info@nigelkay.ca or call 250-510-8938 to schedule a consultation or learn more about our services.
Find more information about Planting Fruit & Nut Trees at www.NigelKay.ca
About the Author
Nigel is a local farmer and permaculture designer living on Salt Spring Island. He works in heritage orchard restoration and regenerative farm design, helping families grow food, plant trees, restore orchards, and design spaces to become healthier and happier. With over a thousand (1,000+) fruit and nut trees planted in the last few years, his recent orchard installation projects include The 50 Tree Walnut Grove, Garry Oak Meadow, as well as “Food Forests” of Pears, Hazelnuts, Mulberries, Figs, and Peaches. His expertise in Permaculture, Agroforestry, & Regenerative Farming is used to transform the most degraded lands into productive, diverse ecosystems. This guide is his gift to those who want to leave a legacy by planting a healthy forest or orchard.
References:
Solomon, S., Reinheimer, E., & Boston, M. (2020). The intelligent gardener: Growing nutrient-dense food. Tantor.
