Raised Bed For Tree

[Nyboy]

I have heavy clay, it doesn't drain when wet and bakes to cement when its dry. I want a cherry tree and have planted many allto die. Going to try one more time with a raised bed. How high should bed be for a dwarf tree?

 

[897tgigvib]

I'd guess a good 3 or 4 foot high, and as wide as you can. Try doing at least some double dig into the ground, and have some drain holes at the bottom of your frame.

Good determined thinking!

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i would think the dwarf types don't need as much space around as a full sized tree. i'm thinking a 10' diameter base around it would give enough room for roots to spread out.

 

[muckmuck]

I have heavy clay, it doesn't drain when wet and bakes to cement when its dry. I want a cherry tree and have planted many allto die. Going to try one more time with a raised bed. How high should bed be for a dwarf tree?

I have the same issue, last year I planted 25 trees in a dense Backyard Orchard Culture type planting the ones at the bottom of the very gentle slope died do to wet feet. This year I put in 2'x2'x6" high raised beds and am mulching heavily on top of that with tree service chips. My new trees are doing great and the areas next to the raised beds that have 6" deep mulch right on top of the clay are showing lots of worm activity going back and forth from the mulch to the clay.


Max

 

[Nyboy]

Welcome Max !!

 

[stephenmoore]

I was facing same issue, as you know dwarf fruit trees need to be planted quite deep, so it depends on how deep your raised bed will be. I would recommend you plant them in a pot, in a mixture of compost and garden soil, that way you could move them around if necessary.

 

[897tgigvib]

Deep, but don't put the graft in the ground else you'll get regular growth roots and the tree will no longer be dwarf.

 

[stephenmoore]

Thank you for suggestions marshallsmyth..

 

[thistlebloom]

I was facing same issue, as you know dwarf fruit trees need to be planted quite deep, so it depends on how deep your raised bed will be. I would recommend you plant them in a pot, in a mixture of compost and garden soil, that way you could move them around if necessary.

This is something I haven't heard before...could you elaborate on why you plant them deeply?