The best of the planting season has already passed and it would be ill advised to plant any new trees or shrubs en-mass unless you are able to give them your closest attention to avoid wind damage or suffering due to lack of water.
You may be interested in this little tip to ensure your trees establish themselves so much faster and stronger in their early development.
Let us say that you are intending to plant up a small meadow with fruit trees and the soil is particularly heavy.
Come late autumn, when conditions become favourable for planting, the soil is invariably damp which makes the digging harder work.
What is more, using a spade to form the sides of the hole tends to smear over the clay which effectively forms a barrier for root penetration. The standard advice is to pierce through the sides and bottom with a sharp fork so to break down the walls and allow penetration by the roots. Even the fork tines, when pushed into the soil, will cause a similar smearing effect in the aeration holes.
If you have time on your side, dig out all of your planting pits to and store or dispose of the soil elsewhere - make sure that the hole is large enough to give the tree roots ample space to develop in the first year without hindrance.
Now, there are two methods from here. 1. if the soil is particularly heavy i.e. clay, fill the hole to the top with old manure. Tamp it down firm with a foot and make sure you fill it to the brim. Now leave the planting pits well alone until you are ready to plant.
During the time, from now until planting, worm activity will increase and as the manure is consumed, the worms will infiltrate the sides of the planting hole creating an intricate network of soft passageways for the new roots.
The 'smeared' surface of the holes will also crumble and soften leaving you with the perfect environment in which your new tree or shrub will thrive. Top up with manure if necessary which will stop the walls of the hole falling in.
If your soil is not too heavy, you can add compost and soil to your manure which will be excavated at planting time and re-used.
Remove all of the excess material taking great care not dig into the original sides of the hole. Add (or fluff up existing infill) a mixture of compost and soil to the base of the hole and rest your plant, making sure that the nursery mark is at existing soil level. Add your root zone mixture around the tree ensuring that all air spaces are shaken out - add a stake if necessary.
Gently tamp the soil down and then water your plant thoroughly.
Now you have given your tree or shrub the best possible start to life in your garden.
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