Ars Terra Journal

Photos and Thoughts
Of Progress at the
Homestead...

 

 

Ars Terra Journal - Spring 2009

Tree Basins

One of the main projects we began in November was digging basins for fruit trees to line the front walkway. These trees are to be grouped closely and are to be kept pruned for easiest access to fruit. The basins are a way to handle low watering in the Summer as well as deep rainwater catchment. Due to our Winters, we can't plant citrus or avocados ~ at the same time, our Winters are short, so we have to choose low-chill varieties of apples and peaches. We ordered 11 bare root tree: 4 apples, 3 peaches, 2 plum, a plumquat,and a nectarine.
Trees Trees Trees
Ditches were dug very deeply, exposing criss-crossing old sprinkler systems. Multiple holes are dug out for the tree groupings. Trees are planted in January - note the short-sleeved shirt, we began to warm up early...
     
Trees Trees Trees
Packing in the earth around each. After the trees were planted, we began to mulch. As the outline is full of bermuda grass, we reworked the rocks with newspaper around the rims. Newspaper is placed around the basins, but the trees are kept clear..
     
Trees Trees Trees
After sheetmulching, we spread strawberry clover seed, and then a final layer of straw. One month later, all the trees begin to sprout. The clover is beginning to sprout under the straw. Our days are dry and the Sun is beginning to beat down already, so we hope the clover will take before it gets too hot.