It was a nail biting decision.
Magnolia tree, weeping cherry tree or peach tree? One was going to take center stage in the front yard.
But which one?
There was a gaping hole left by the sudden demise of a beloved white birch tree. It was my grandma’s, too! But nothing could be done to save it.
The peach tree won out since the location is in full-sun and the deer steer clear of the front yard. Plus…my daughter wanted that peach tree and she is very convincing.
Not to mention the delicate pink flowers and luscious edible fruit it will produce over the long haul. Late winter through early spring is the perfect time to plant a peach tree.
Can you feel the peach drool gushing down your face as you bite into a ripe peach fresh off your tree? Pretty and delicious~ peach trees have it all!
Bonus spin: I have a secret recipe for the perfect soil mix to get your peach tree to thrive. Let’s plant a peach tree today!
How-to choose the right peach tree?
Choose a type of peach tree that grows well in your climate. Peach tree’s grow best in climates with hot and humid summers that go into winter temperatures colder than 45 degrees F.
Most peach tree varieties require a time in cold temperatures to grow effectively. This dormancy period is known as a peach tree’s “chill hour requirement.”
Look up the number of chilling hours typical of your climate to make sure it meets the requirements for your desired peach variety.
Before you seal, double check the tag to make sure the gardening zone matches yours. Equally important, if you are only planting one peach tree like Tom and I, make sure it’s self-pollinating!
Select a bare-root tree (dormant trees that are stored without soil on their roots) if you are planting in late-winter.
But it’s early spring here so Tom and I purchased a container-grown Loring peach tree with a massive root system! An adorable dwarf tree that boasts very large, mid-season, yellow, freestone peaches.
Planting in early spring is ideal as it gives the tree an entire growing season to rebound and recover from the shock of being transplanted. So spring plantings give the tree time to adjust to its new home before winter.
Where do I get my peach tree to plant?
With so many online nurseries cropping up, it’s tempting to go the online route. After all, you don’t have to worry about how to get your peach tree home. Plus, shipping is usually free and it’s delivered right to your doorstep.
The downside is that you can’t evaluate the various trees. You get whatever they decide to ship you. I chose a tree that I knew would be easy to prune and also had a very straight trunk.
The greatest advantage for buying from a local nursery is you can examine the tree up close and personal. Most nurseries have a fairly knowledgable staff who can answer questions on the spot.
In fact, the worker double checked with me (since we only purchased one tree) that it was self-pollinating. Very professional! Most peach trees are self-pollinating.
We had to borrow Tom’s brother’s trailer to get our tree home since that container was so humongous. But the tree boasts a beautiful root system and it’s a much bigger tree than anything ordered online.
Location…location…location. Where to plant your peach tree
You can’t just plant a peach tree anywhere. It could die on you if it doesn’t like the spot you chose. Womp. Womp.
So first and foremost, peach trees want full-sun. Select a spot that gets 8 hours of sun daily.
Just as important is choosing a site that is shielded from the wind. Nothing worse than wind blowing all the beautiful pink and white blossoms off…and hence….your future fruit!
Shoot for a site that has well-drained sandy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil has poor drainage or is clay in nature like ours, you might have to amend it a bit because it requires fertile soil.
I find having a soil pH meter very helpful.
Finally layout is vital. It’s pretty hard to move a tree once planted so it’s a good idea to make sure the location is perfect, especially if you have multiple plantings.
With trees, always look ahead to possible future problems such as overhead power lines, fences and walkways. And don’t plant too close to your neighbors property! Never on the properly line or near their pool.
Step-by-step peach tree planting instructions & our secret soil formula for success!
1.) Dig a planting hole a few inches deeper and twice as wide as the tree’s root ball.
If you are adding our suggested amendments to the bottom of the hole then you might have to add as much as 8 inches in depth to accommodate the extra bulk.
If you do not need to amend your soil do not dig the hole any deeper than 2/3 of the root ball.
2.) Our soil is clay. Peach trees don’t like clay soil which is why we had to amend the soil. So we dug our hole extra deep and took out some of the existing topsoil to make room for our mixture of amended soil.
The topsoil removed from the hole can be used in low spots around your yard as a wonderful filler! It’s still excellent topsoil~ just not what the peach tree wants surrounding its most immediate and vulnerable roots.
3.) In a big bucket or wheelbarrow mix our secret ingredients together for peach tree planting success. Combine Canadian sphagnum peat moss, composted manure and garden soil in equal parts.
This mixture is ideal to nourish the tree’s roots while lightening up the existing heavy soil. The Canadian sphagnum peat moss is the best if you can get your hands on some!
Just be aware the sphagnum peat moss has a low pH, so it may affect pH around the roots remembering the idea pH is between 6.0-7.0.
4.) With your hands, mix the ingredients well and create a mound at the bottom of the planting hole.
The bottom of the hole is where the amended soil will do the most good~ right near the roots! Pack this amended soil down tight so the root ball will be planted on firm soil. No gaps.
5.) Untangle and spread the tree’s roots out over the soil mound when you place the tree into the hole.
Use a hose or a bucket to water the tree before you backfill the hole but wait until it drains before completely backfilling with the amended soil from the wheelbarrow.
Plant the tree so the root ball is up to 1/3 above ground level and make sure your tree is vertical. At no time should the top surface of a root ball be below ground level. This will drown the plant and kill it quickly!
6.) Continue to backfill your hole with your amended soil up and around those roots. If you run out, go ahead and use some of the existing soil to backfill.
7.) Spread about 2 inches of organic mulch around the top. Mulch helps seal in moisture, discourages weeds, and enriches the soil. Mulch can also prevent water-pooling and freeze injury around the trunk going-into winter.
In the fall, add another 2-3 inches of mulch or a layer of straw for extra winter protection. Just try to keep the mulch 2-3 inches away from the stem base.
Insider tip: To encourage root growth away from the ball, loosen soil with a shovel several feet around the planting hole.
Watering your peach tree
Water is the most critical part of maintaining your new peach tree’s health. New plantings require more water than established ones.
Water your tree right away when it’s delivered to your house or picked up, and twice a day until planted.
For the first year, you’ll have to water your peach tree regularly and deeply, especially during those dry summer months of July and August.
In fact, larger shrubs and trees should be watered every 2-3 days for the entire season even if it rains.
Apply the water directly over the plant’s root system until a puddle forms around the base of the plant. This will ensure thorough watering. You may have to repeat this step 3 to 4 times each time you water.
Roots on a newly planted tree or shrub don’t reach the surrounding soil until 4-6 weeks after planting.
If you are fretting over whether or not your peach tree is getting the water it requires, use a hand shovel and dig down alongside the ball ball.
Peach tree pruning advice
This part is painful but must be done to increase fruit production once the tree matures.
You must cut and prune the side branches and trim the top of the tree, I’d estimate about 30% off the top and sides.
Peaches bear fruit on second-year wood, so proper pruning this year affects your crop yield next year. Prune trees in the early summer during the tree’s first, second, and third years of life.
After the third year, always prune in late April. Maintain the tree’s lovely shape by cutting shoots growing from the center of the tree.
Staking your tree
When staking your peach tree, place the stake tightly against the side of the root ball. Slightly angle the stake away from the tree.
Drive the stake 6-8 inches into the undisturbed soil at the bottom of the root ball Never into the root ball!
Staking is important to keep younger trees growing vertically.
Fantastic fertilizing
Use a Bio-tone or a starter fertilizer equivalent at the time of planting, then a granular fertilizer such as 10-10-10 (1) month after planting. Choose a fertilizer high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen for best results.
That’s a great tip about encouraging where the roots grow. We live close to peach farming country but would never plant one in our garden. We’ve just planted a Cape Ash tree which is meant to be ideal for small gardens.
want to grow a peach tree. already have Plum Tree.
The blossoms are so pretty, too. Great tips.
What a beautiful tree. Hoping you have many years of enjoyment and especially delicious peaches. I like the pink flowers. So sorry about the birch tree they are wonderful trees.
Thank you Laura for the tips. We bought property in West Tennessee and we have been thinking of planting some fruit trees. This will help me when we get ready to plant.
Beautiful tree! Love the pink spring blooms…
great tips, thanks much!!
love the color
My peach tree finally bloomed this year. I’ve had to cut it back a few times because the bucks like to clean the velvet from their antlers on my tree.
Such a pretty tree, makes me want to try and grow one!
Thanks for the information on planting a peach tree!
Great info! Gonna plant one today in honor of Earth Day❣️
Beautiful Tree! Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the information!
cool
Thanks for the great info!
We had a small peach tree here at the house we bought. It only lasted the first year here and died the following year. There is nothing like picking a ripe peach off a tree. Now that I have instructions on how to plant a peach tree maybe I can get my husband to plant one.
Wow This Peach Looks So Beautiful I Bet Those Peaches Are So Delicious !! Looks Easy 2 Plant !!! Tsvm 4 The Info HAPPY EARTH DAY !!
beautiful wish this would grow in Florida
I’ve always wanted one! Thank you for the tips!
I had a peach tree but the wildlife eats most everything it produces.
Beautiful trees however.
I can use this technique for any tree
Great , in depth, tips. I have never even considered planting a peach tree until I read your article. Thanks.
Can’t really raise fruit trees in our area, but still good info.
We had 3 peach trees that got bores under the bark and died.
Very good information.
I absolutely love all things related to peaches! Thanks for a great article.
I love the colorful blossoms on this
Beautiful tree love the color .
No, I have never roasted peaches on the grill. I have never thought of that before. It sounds amazing and will be on our menu for our 1st cookout this year.
While your grandma’s white birch tree will be dearly missed, I find it heartwarming that her great granddaughter wanted and scored a peach tree that fits beautifully in your front yard landscape. Thank you for the detailed planting information and tips you share. And, while I’ve never roasted peaches on a grill, I’m inclined to give it a try!
Peach trees have beautiful flowers.
thanks for the wonderful tips! I hope to have some peach trees one day!
Good advice for any tree.
I love your website
Beautiful tree ! Imagine picking a juicy peach right out of your yard
So many fruit trees are so very pretty in the spring, but peach would not work in our yard. There would be no problem with sunlight, but the wind would be a different story!
Great information! Thank you.
My son just planted a peach tree. They are planting fruit trees on their property.
Saved the info as I will be planting a few this spring.
Thanks for the tips!
When you care for a new tree carefully, it will thrive later.
I planted a peach tree this spring. It was a seedling I found. We already have several peach trees.
some great info in this blog
This is a beautiful tree. I’ve never planted a peach tree. Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the tips. I never realized peach trees had such beautiful flowers! No, I’ve never done peaches on the grill.
It is always worth planting a tree. We have one that my son planted when he was 10 that was just a sapling. It is now 30 ft high and he is 40 years old
Great article
I can taste the peach preserves now!
Thanks for this post. I bought one last year, and it seems to be doing good.
I have never planted a peach tree. I don’t think I have seen one full bloom. I would remember seeing a tree as pretty as this. I have to remember to pick a peach 🍑 tree with a straight trunk! I haven’t had a juicy peach dripping juice down my chin in ages 😢.
I am so sorry that the beloved white birch tree that your grandma had died! It would have made me sad too!! I’m sure she would have loved one of your delicious peaches though 🍑
We are moving to Kentucky from Utah and I will be planting fruit trees. Thanks for all the great information.
Very informative as usual.
I have a peach tree so thanks for the tips
Love peaches and my neighbor always gets a good crop.
I never realized how beautiful peach trees were!
Will be trying this!
Those beautiful pink blossoms! I would love to have a peach tree in my yard this year!
The blossoms on this are so pretty. Love the vivid pink color. It is so cheerful
I wish I could grow one of these. So pretty and I love peaches!
Love peach trees!
We always had peach trees in our yard growing up, and I miss them! Thank you for these tips to help me try to grow my own.
Great tips. I’ve never roasted peaches on the grill.
I have started almost all of my flower plants inside this year from seeds.
Thank you for the information and great pictures!
I moved to a new home last year and there a lot of trees on the property but none are fruit bearing. I believe I just decided to plant a peach tree or two after reading this blog. Thank you for all of the good information.
Very nice story.
I live in Georgia, known for peaches, but we actually produce more pecans
Good tips to follow. Thanks.
My folks had a peach tree when I was young. We got some peaches from it, but it did not do well. The fresh peaches were wonderful, though.
If only we had the internet and your blog back then, lol.
Peach trees are beautiful when blooming, and we love peaches!
I think that planting in early spring makes sense.
Great advice!
I would love to have a peach tree they do really well in our area thanks for sharing these important tips.
i need one of these. tornado came through and wiped out most of my trees in my backyard. thanks for the infor!
thanks for the info!!
I love peaches! Thank you for the tips!
It is too cold in our area for most fruit trees to thrive, but this is definitely helpful info to know. Maybe it would apply to berries too.
Informative
Thank you for the tips of growing and planting a peach tree. I use to live in WI and wanted to grow them there but I knew we would be moving to TN and I am not sure if the winters here would be cold enough for it. I know we can have very mild winters here and we do get a few colder days but nothing consistent.
Our old peach tree thinks it’s a cat! (nine lives) Every year I say ‘well this is the last year for this tree’ it produces the best peaches. I guess we’ll keep for another year!
Peach trees do great in Missouri. I love the color .
I would LOVE a peach tree in my back yard, but skeptical too. Never seen a peach tree before either. Would be pretty awesome.
Thank you for the super useful information. I agree that buying a tree online is a roll of the dice….I will never do that again. There is nothing better than homegrown peaches grown in the sun. Yum!!!!
Great tips
Nice pink flowers!
I had no idea that peach trees had such lovely blossoms! It is really is a beautiful tree and to have peaches growing is an added bonus! Thankyou for posting such a good read.
To answer your question, yes we love to grill peaches,
Thanks so much for the tips on planting a peach tree. I’ve always loved the flowers on them.
Thanks for the information. I never realized that peach tree have such beautiful flowers.
I love our peach trees. The blooms are beautiful and the peaches are so sweet.
Good information. Fruit trees are abundant here in Florida. Thank you.
we planted a peach pit and a tree grew. It yields a few peaches each year!
Such great info!!
Beautiful tree! There was a peach tree in my yard when I grew up. I loved it especially now I miss it!
Wow just love to have a peach tree in the backyard so colorful of blooms indeed
Such a pretty tree. I love it.
nice giveaway
Thank you for all your gardening tips!
I’d love to have a whole orchard of peach trees
Thank you for giving me more confidence in all my gardening adventures! You Rock! 🙂
Beautiful tree I would love to grow one but I don’t think it would thrive here in Michigan .
Its great to actually get fruit from your tree!!
No, but I aim to try grilling both peaches and nectarines on the grill, bet they go great with pork. Sadly, I’m in the foothills of the Adirondacks so I can’t grow peaches here with our harsh winters
What a beautiful tree! Makes me want one for my own yard!
Thanks for sharing all the info!
Great tips
Wonderful advice as usual.
I doubt peach trees grow in my area but your gardening articles are always interesting.
Smart, useful information. Thank you
They are so gorgeous when in bloom!
Would be so much fun to grow but not where I live now.
I have always loved peach trees and peaches they are so good thanks for the information
While I’ve never roasted peaches on the grill, I won’t get the thought out of my head until I try it! Your instructions are marvelous and appreciated, as is the suggestion for a soil pH meter. (I did buy one last Fall after creating a new plant bed requiring neutral soil, not our standard acidic SE Texas soil!) Wishing you a scrumptious harvest of peaches this season!
I wonder if peach trees are susceptible to specific tree diseases.
I have never tried peaches on the grill but sounds delicious! Our zone won’t support growing a peach tree but would love to. The directions were awesome!
I’ve always wanted a peach tree.
I really wanna try growing a peach tree but I wanna grow an apple tree and a lemon one!
A peach tree is a great idea, I think I want one now!
Thanks for the advice
Planting a peach tree would be so much fun. I really enjoy having a peach.
thanks for the great tips!
This applies to planting any kind of tree, since peach trees won’t grow in my planting zone.
Thank Garden Weasel for hosting this contest!
Peach blossoms are so pretty and fragrant. Thanks for the info.
Beautiful blossoms for sure. Wish I had the space to put one. I’ve never done peaches on a grill, but wouldn’t mind giving it a try.
Thank you for this step by step info..i love peaches and have always wanted to grow them.
My peach tree struggles, my plum does fantastic. Thanks for all the great tips
Thanks for the great tips and advice.
This takes me back to my childhood and growing up with a big peach tree in our backyard. When my friends and I would get hungry while playing outside, we would just run over and pick a peach to eat.
This is a great site. You don’t need a green thumb.
I have a pear tree in my front yard but would love a peach tree also.
Very cool!! I never thought about planting a peach tree. My step-dad just ordered some apple trees so those will be nice!
I have never tried growing any kind of fruit trees before but I love peaches so maybe ill try them out.
Wow spring is so beautiful and peach trees are just breathless.
We grow a lot of peaches here and we get some if the squirrels leave us some
No, I haven’t. I usually just can them.
miss having fruit trees in the yard.. alas, now a renter.
Interesting blog post. I’m not so sure how successful I would be growing peaches here in NY
Great ideas. Will have to look into this.
We planted a peach tree 2 years ago. It thrived then died!
I love reading your post on this site. I find a lot of good information on here.
I have w huge yard, it might support a peach tree It never even entered my mind until now
Beautiful blossoms on the peach tree!
I might give this a try. Nothing greater than having fresh peaches!
may try to grow one here in texas, thanks for the info
I do not have a place to plant a peach tree, but we had 2 big peach trees in the backyard when I was growing up. The peaches were delicious! We ate a lot of them, my mom made preserves and pies and my sisters and I were always sent all around the neighborhood giving bags of peaches to neighbors. So many memories!
This is some great tips. I appreciate it. You guys are the best.
So many great tips! I will certainly try some this year on my trees.
I Love this. I bookmarked it because I plan to plant some fruit trees!
Thanks for hosting. This is nice info.
It really helped when you said that we should choose a tree that would grow in your climate. I guess I need to ask a professional to help me what kind of bare root fruit tree I can get for my backyard. I just wanted at least one or two to have a different variant here on my property for this year.
I would love to add some fruit trees at my home.
I have a peach tree that I planted over 15 years ago. It took a few years before it had peaches, The only problem is the deer eat them before they ripen and I have never gotten a single peach. Just like the squirrels eat all of my pecans. The birds eat the grapes. No matter what I try, they find a way to eat them all.