posted 6 hours ago
I am getting ready to plant my first set of fruit trees. My husband and I just purchased a house with a large lot (0.78 acres) in Western PA (6b) and want to do significant gardening and growing of fruit. I like a lot of permaculture ideas, but have a hard time with the chaos that ensues (we're not doing a full scale food forest) and I don't think the neighbors would appreciate it. The property is mostly level, has some large maple trees, and has a very slight northern slope, but is largely flat. Like most soil here it is predominantly clay.
This is a somewhat modified fruit tree guild layout. My plan is to do a line of fish scale swales along the Southern and Northern borders of the properties (where there is full sun) and plant apple, pear, and peach trees. I intend to plant the trees on the berm, mulch with compost and woodchips, and add a tree wrap for protection. For the first year I will have buckets next to each tree with a small hole in it to slowly water the trees as needed. On the berm I am also going to plant strawberries, various herbs, pollinator mix flowers, as well as a gooseberry and a currant plant. I'm hoping to propagate these and have more bushes in future years.
I'd appreciate any advice that you all have! I know fruit trees love to die, and expect some to not make it, but I want to set them up for success.
We are also planning on planting raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. From what I can tell it is not recommended to plant these with young fruit trees due to the spreading nature of brambles and soil pH needs of blueberries.
Other plans, if you're interested and have advice:
-Set up a rainwater catchment using our roof and a food grade IBC tote
-Put in a large garden using no dig principles (I will do a light initial till due to time contraints)
-Plant a sterile comfrey plant for comfrey tea
-Set up in a 3-4 bay composting system
-Add chickens for eggs, beautiful compost, and garden bug control.
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