Plantation project - timeline
Designing the rows
- Rows follow contour lines to slow run-off water (Keyline design).
- 2m-wide tarpaulins are laid down to prevent weed growth and reduce competition from the meadow to help the trees at the start.
Subsoiler and seeding
- The subsoiler digs a single furrow about 60cm deep to allow the quick penetration of tree roots deep into the soil to capture water and nutrients.
- The soil is then lightly tilled to break off the large clods before sowing.
- Clover is sown by hand: a Fabaceae plant that fixes nitrogen from the air in the soil and makes it available to other plants. This sowing is designed to cover the soil to prevent the grass and weeds from taking over too strongly.
Plantation
- 44 holes dug and 44 fruit scions received.
- Coating the roots with a mixture of water, clay and cow dung.
- Planting, pruning to a height of about 1m then installing deer protection.
Mulching
Each tree base is mulched with a thick layer of hay to:
- protect young roots from the cold
- preserve soil moisture
- adding organic matter as the hay decomposes
- prevent weeds
Fencing
- Roe deers caused a lot of damage so an electrified double-wire fence was installed around each line of trees.
- Hay mulch is regularly reapplied on the tree bases
Pruning
First harvests of red fruit
And ONE apple!
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