I have just transplanted 3 young fruit trees into my new garden. The ground was not frozen and it was very easy to dig the holes. What do you think there survival chances are? The soil appeared rich and arable.
It is great to hear that someone is lucky enough to dig holes in winter in their garden! I think your success should be very good provided your roots where not damaged or dried out before planting.
Do not fertilize at this time, and if you watered lightly to help close any air gabs in the soil you should be good. You should be able to check your trees in early spring to see if they survived by gently bending the tip of one of the branches; making sure it is green and not brittle or dried out. If they are alive in early spring make sure your soil does not dry out, but do not keep it too wet.
A little organic material can be mixed into the top layer of soil when thawed out enough to mix. You can also give your trees a light layer of leaf or straw debris at this time to help protect them. Keep the layer close to the trunk of the tree but not tight against the trunk. You do not want the trunk to be too wet and rot. By doing this it should also help the roots by being a blanket against the cold. After your tree starts to push buds in the spring you can fertilize slightly with a low dose of liquid fertilizer geared toward fruit trees.
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What sort of fruit trees are they Gilesds?
It sounds as if they'll be fine. Have you staked them?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It is great to hear that someone is lucky enough to dig holes in winter in their garden! I think your success should be very good provided your roots where not damaged or dried out before planting.
Do not fertilize at this time, and if you watered lightly to help close any air gabs in the soil you should be good. You should be able to check your trees in early spring to see if they survived by gently bending the tip of one of the branches; making sure it is green and not brittle or dried out. If they are alive in early spring make sure your soil does not dry out, but do not keep it too wet.
A little organic material can be mixed into the top layer of soil when thawed out enough to mix. You can also give your trees a light layer of leaf or straw debris at this time to help protect them. Keep the layer close to the trunk of the tree but not tight against the trunk. You do not want the trunk to be too wet and rot. By doing this it should also help the roots by being a blanket against the cold. After your tree starts to push buds in the spring you can fertilize slightly with a low dose of liquid fertilizer geared toward fruit trees.
Good Luck and Happy Gardening!