Also, do not place fertilizer in the planting hole or fertilize immediately after planting. Apply fertilizer after the soil is settled by a rain or irrigation and tree growth begins. After planting, apply sufficient water to thoroughly soak the soil in the area of the tree roots. This watering brings the soil into closer contact with all sides of the roots and eliminates air pockets around the roots. The day you plant your trees is the day you begin to prune and train for future production.
Neglect results in poor growth and delayed fruiting.
Pruning a young tree controls its shape by developing a strong, well-balanced framework of scaffold branches. Remove or cut back unwanted branches early to avoid the necessity of large cuts in later years. The currently preferred method of pruning and training nontrellised trees is the central leader system. Pruning in late winter consists of removing undesirable limbs as well as tipping terminals to encourage branching. Summer training is most beneficial if done in early June.