Fruit Gardening In November

Fruit trees can be planted any time between now and next March, but the sooner the better.

A light frost need not hold up planting-just lift off the top crust of frosty soil, then dig the hole.

Put in the stakes before planting the tree, with the stake away from the direction of the prevailing wind.

Prune apples and pears, avoiding doing so when there is a hard frost.

Soak fruit tree roots for an hour or so before planting, and plant the same depth as in the nursery- look for the old soil mark on the trunk.

Give a tar oil wash spray to apples, pears, plums, cherries and soft fruit, after pruning.

Avoid pruning stone fruits such as plums-they are best done in the summer.