On 01/09/2014 16:00, JD wrote:
Spider wrote in
:

Don't worry about the summer pruning too much. In fact, it is
probably the guided tour of your garden that held it back most but, as
you say, what's done is done. You really need to make sure that it
doesn't want for water. If anything, water especially well outside
the planting hole. This will oblige the roots to move out into the
soil in search of water and nutrients. I'm sure you can see how this
will encourage growth and help the tree anchor itself in the ground.

Another great tip - thank you!

I notice that only two of your trees have stakes. It would be wise
with the winter coming to put in a short stake for the third tree.
Shorter stakes are advised these days, as it allows the tree to move
in the wind and strengthen itself. The stake should be inserted (away
from the rootball) at approx 45 degrees and so that the prevailing
wind pushes the stake into the ground, rather than pulling it out.
Use a buffer between the tree and the stake so that there is no
chafing when the tree moves in the wind. Chafing means damage: damage
means disease.

Will do - thanks!

When I bough these saplings (from Asda) there was no indication what
the rootstock was or what the final height would be. I suppose only
time will tell.



Yes, this is a problem. I even Googled Asda fruit trees in the vain
hope that I would learn something, but nothing showing. Do you
remember what the apple types were? Knowing this should help us learn
whether they're spur or tip bearing.

I just found the card that came with them (which aso states some height
inf)
Cox's Orange Pippin (Tree-2 that got snapped off half way up)
Jonagold (Tree1 or Tree-3 - I can't remember which)
Elstart (Tree1 or Tree-3 - I can't remember which)

All of them are suppost to grow to aboout 10 feet, according to the
cards.



Good news. They're all spur bearing. Makes life much easier when you
come to pruning. I'm not sure which rootstock would create a 10ft tree,
but I hope it's manageable and I hope it's tall enough for you to walk
under and sit under. Time will tell.

Not wishing to be negative, but suspend your surprise for a while.
Trees often *seem* to cope with immediate disruption or starving or
flooding, but a year or three down the line start to show signs of
stress .. or worse. This is why I emphasized watering and staking and
general good care above. The chances are that, with due care and
watering (even after a light shower), your tree will grow away well,
but its not out of the woods yet.

Thanks... yes, one thing I havee been doing is watering them well,
including with liquid manure from my large drum of water into which I put
greenery clippings to decompose into a nutritious soup. Yiou have to be
carefuk with it though; it nearly killed my potted catnip bush!

JD


Now I've never used one of these 'compost teas' as they're called.
They're supposed to be very good, but usually they need some dilution
before application. If you're not sure of your dilution rate, I suggest
you start another thread so all the compost tea users on urg can offer
advice. You may be using a much too strong solution or, indeed, you may
know what you're doing :~).

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay