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Thinking of planting apple, pear and plum trees but got a big problem with our soil, it being chalk and very large flint stones. Thinking of digging out and filling with the right soil. Could anyone help me with how to go about this and what soil to use, and most importantly would that work?
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Can't offer any advice , but will say welcome! Can you add your location to your profile, as that may well help someone who is able to give you advice? -
My soil is a matter of inches deep and on a solid layer of chalk, have plums and apples and used to have a pear that all grow well.
So I don't think it would make a great deal of a problem.
You may get some deficencies in things like magnesium etc but I have never yet seen anything.
The apples are actually planted along the rear fence and literally the chalk is very close to the surface.
Trees have actually evolved over quite a few million years, certainly significantly longer then us newcomers called humans. I wouldn't worry too much. Dig a hole, put tree in roots down and fill hole. Take out any big stones and stake the tree for support.
Kent geologically is chalk, flint and limestone and that is the traditional fruit area of the UK.Last edited by Kirk; 10-02-2014, 09:32 PM.Comment
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I am no expert and am just repeating what I remember someone else (possibly FB) said on another post. It was along the lines of if you dig a hole and put in good soil the tree will treat it like a pot and will not extend its roots outside the good soil. I am sure someone who knows will be able to confirm this or correct me.
Apologies FB if I have misquoted you.Comment
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I probably said something like that. I would not change the soil too much because it might discourage roots from exploring and it might have different permeability resulting in an underground pond forming in the hole, with roots drowning or rotting.Originally posted by simon12 View Post
In Surrey there is generally enough rain, so you shouldn't be too badly affected. Mostly, growing fruit trees is about them getting enough water (rainfall or irrigation - and the ability of the soil to retain moisture) and having rootstocks suited to the available moisture.
Generally speaking, Quinces and the rootstocks Quince A and Quince C don't do well in chalky/alkaline soils nor in dry soils. Pyrodwarf or pear seedling will be fine in chalk.
You will need to choose suitable rootstocks to enable the trees to get as large or remain as small as you would like.
In my experience - and of others - some scion varieties and some rootstocks grow better in chalky soils and some grow poorly..Comment
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My general response is as per my post to Simon above. Mulches (kept a few inches away from the trunk) would be better than changing the soil.Originally posted by minkie View Post
Knowing roughly where you are located would help a lot because of big variations in soil and climate across the UK (assuming you're actually in the UK)..Comment
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Isn't that situation good for grapevines? ( Not that I know much about them . . and depending where you are, again)Comment
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Thank you all for your help and it is good to be here on your forum. I live in Hampshire, sorry not got to profile yet. I will take advice and plant straight into ground and perhaps put a mulch on top as mentioned, I don't think I got to worry about them drying out at the moment. Any help with what variety to get would be appreciated.Comment
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Firstly, decide how big you want them to get when mature.Originally posted by minkie View Post
Then think about whether you plan to feed/water/spray or leave them to do their own thing. Also whether they will be grown with bare soil around them or whether they'll be grown with grass cover or other plants competing with their roots.
That will determine what rootstocks you need.
Then you can start looking at the varieties available at your preferred nursery on the most suitable rootstock.
My soil is so nasty (shallow, chalky-sandy-gravelly loam in a low rainfall area) that I plant the most vigorous rootstocks (e.g. apple M25, pear seedling, plum Brompton) at 8-10ft spacing because they don't have a hope of managing to get any bigger than that in my soil, in my lifetime..Comment
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