Phoebe Gordon

Figure 1. Trees at the Westside Research and Extension Center in December 2023, at the end of the first year of growth (Photo P. Gordon) Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by A.I.) Planting an orchard requires a lot of work to ensure that the trees get off to the best start possible: picking the right rootstock and scion, prepping the ground and choosing the best irrigation system are just some of the decisions that need to be made.

Figure 1. Trees at the Westside Research and Extension Center in December 2023, at the end of the first year of growth (Photo P. Gordon) Listen to the audio version of this article. (Generated by A.I.) Planting an orchard requires a lot of work to ensure that the trees get off to the best start possible: picking the right rootstock and scion, prepping the ground and choosing the best irrigation system are just some of the decisions that need to be made.

Listen to the audio version of this article. (Generated by A.I.) Correct fertilization of newly planted trees is essential to ensure their success. The goal is to get adequate growth while avoiding weak and spindly primary scaffolds or increasing pruning demands.