Need Advice On Planting Trees

Plan wisely.

Sun exposure? How big will each tree variety get? Most people plant too closely. Do you want evergreens or deciduous?

fruit tree varieties need X amount of "chill days" check what climatic zone you are in. (Sunset Western Garden Book lists these). make sure they meet the minimum. Not sure about M/F, but don't think you need to worry...

Water, got it? How expensive is it?

Soil? How is it? May need to do some work for the fruit trees. 

Apples usually need a pollinator. It can even be a crabapple.

My only advice is to not plant the trees too deep, which is a common mistake. If the top of the root ball is even to the ground, the mulch will be up on the neck and can choke out the tree. Roots will also grow up rather than down. Plant it so that the top of the root ball is an inch or two above ground level.

A little hint for watering in the trees after you plant and the hole is filled in: put the hose on a very slow trickle, and push it as far down into the loose soil as possible. When water starts bubbling up, move the hose to the other side of the root ball. Do it a few more times, until there’s no spot that can take any more water. As the entire root ball and surrounding soil get saturated, you might have to restraighten the tree. Doing it this way ensures that it gets totally watered in, and that you aren’t wasting water.

Another reason not to plant too deep is that the graft, if the tree was grafted, must be above ground.

All good info, after all the work, watch out for deer. They can jump over a chain link fence with no problem. 

You can add height to the fence with just some sticks, twine, and flagging tape. It doesn't have to be strong like the lower six feet;  just visually intimidating. The pieces of flagging tape should be long enough to flap in the wind - this may deter a few birds as well.

I think that grafted Apple trees, with multiple varieties, can be self-pollinating. It most need a pollinator.

I landscaped for years. We specialized in trees, no mowing or shit like that. I can’t tell you how many trees we had to o pull out because the original landscaping company planted too deep. It’s always better too high than too deep, especially if you are mulching. Over the years the mulch will choke those babies out.

In order to have successful pollination, it is necessary to have two different varieties of apple trees. Most apple varieties are self-unfruitful, which means their blossoms must be fertilized with the pollen of a separate variety in order to achieve good fruit set.

Apple Tree Pollination | Rodale's Organic Life

https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/apple-tree-pollination

leafy end up.

A few years ago my neighbors put in a self-pollinating peach tree. I chuckled because this is VT, and we don’t grow peaches here. This past summer it put on about 200 lbs of fruit. I guess that fucker could handle this Zone. The fruit was delectable.

stock up on fungicide

I don't think (all?) apples need 2 trees or varieties for pollination. I have an apple tree that fruits heavily every year, but only one tree. I figure that there are apple trees near enough in the neighborhood that there's pollination (none in directly neighboring yards). I also have only one pear tree, it fruits heavily, also.

It sounds like you're creating a lovely spot there, Mark.

Wait - I don't understand what the 2x12" boxes around the trees are for.

Also, since my apple tree, a Liberty, is a semi-dwarf, it must be grafted, so maybe that's why no direct neighbor's tree is needed. The pear is a heritage variety from Orcas Island.

I’m not totally up on the Apple thing. My dwarf lost her pal the first winter, and relies on the neighbor’s for pollination. It’s pretty far away and I get almost no fruit.

The neighbor’s is grafted with 4 varieties. That one pollinates itself.

Generally, your avocado tree is more likely to produce a viable crop if you have a second avocado tree. The other tree should be the type to complement your existing tree. For instance, if you are growing a type A avocado, choose a type B tree to help pollination. Type A avocados include "Hass," "Pinkerton" and "Gwen." Avocados that produce type B flowers include "Fuerte," "Bacon" and "Zutano." Guatemalan avocados (Persea nubigena var. guatamalensis) like "Hass," "Gwen" and "Pinkerton" are hardy down to 26 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, which corresponds to the border of USDA zone 9b and 10a. Avocados like "Fuerte," "Bacon" and "Zutano" are avocado hybrids and are hardy down to 25 or 26 F, which is USDA zone 9b. During pollination the air temperature does matter. The trees should be pollinated when temperatures range from 65 to 75 F for the best fruit set.

https://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/sunset-climate-zones-califor...

mmm.  bacon avocado

The USDA zones were changed this this year or last year, which is probably why some confusion. Climate change? The Sunset Western Garden book has always had its own scale. I've always used the SWG book, too, both a very old version and a newer one. The only real difference is that the new has newer plant selections. Reconcile the new zones with the old ones and everything will work out fine.

Never heard of growing a tree in a box. Remember, the roots of a tree cover as much area and volume as the visible part.

id get an electric fence.

and/or make a fence surrounded by another just a couple of feet apart. deer have to pogo it.

you're an  electrician...

Just go to the store and buy some fruit. Invest the rest of the money in bitcoin

Mark, Fig trees grow well up in this area. Lots of the old gold mining  tent camps along the rivers always had a fig tree.