18/06/2026
With the cool, wet weather here, now is the time to start thinking about planting bare-rooted fruit trees, which will be appearing in nurseries over the coming weeks.
There is something truly exciting about selecting a variety that will reward you with fresh fruit from your own garden for decades to come. Whether you're dreaming of a classic apple, a juicy peach, or something a little more unusual, it's worth doing your research early and getting good local advice to find the perfect variety for your conditions and ensure any pollination requirements are met. This is one decision that's well worth getting right!
Choose your site carefully, allowing enough space for the tree to reach its full size while remaining easy to access for pruning, harvesting and netting.
Where possible, dig and prepare your planting holes in advance. For heavy or clay soils, work in plenty of gypsum (around 1 kg per square metre) along with generous amounts of good-quality compost, and clear the area of any competing grass. This is your tree's foundation — thorough soil preparation now will pay dividends for years to come.
Don't overlook the importance of formative pruning when your tree is planted. Getting the structure and shape right while the tree is young sets it up for a lifetime of healthy growth and productive harvests — it is arguably the most important prune your tree will ever have.
If you'd like some expert help to make sure it's done right, Willunga Fruit Tree Pruning is here to help!
Call Amanda on 0412 009 426