Do not mulch the trees because it gives mice a place to hide and promotes collar rot. Keep the ground bare for at least two feet around the tree. Soak the ground after planting, and water as needed during the summer. Do not fertilize until a soaking rain has occurred to settle the soil. Training If the tree is an unbranched whip, then cut it back to 26 to 30 inches.
Next year select the scaffold branches and top.
On a well-branched tree, select side branches and top. The branches should be 6 to 10 inches apart and facing different directions. Branches can be tied down or a stick used to gradually increase the branch angles, which should be between 60 and 90 degrees. Lime and Fertilizer Maintain the pH at 6.0 to 6.8. A soil test can used to design the best program.