I just got gifted three dwarf pear trees and a black mulberry tree, but I'm worried about where to plant them since the summers here are extremely hot and dry with no shade. I'd hate to see them scorched like my older trees did in the past because of the heat. The seller suggested partial shade, but I don't have that option. I'm considering either planting them in pots under my porch or planting them directly on my property and trying to protect them from the sun. What do you think is the best way to go about this? I really want to grow these pear trees!
1 Answer
If you're worried about the heat, make sure to give them a lot of water, especially in the first month – daily watering is ideal. After that, you can back off to every other day. Don't forget to mulch around them to help retain moisture in the soil, just be careful to keep the mulch away from the trunks. This can be a great way to support them in the hot weather! Also, have you considered creating swales to manage water retention when it rains? It might help your clayey soil a bit, especially since it tends to crack in the summer.
Just a heads up, mulberries usually love the sun and they can take the heat quite well. My mulberry thrived in full sun even in a harsh climate! Plus, you might be able to use the mulberry’s shade to protect your pear trees a bit.
Thanks for the tips! I’m learning about mulching now, and pine needles seem like a good option since I have plenty of those. I also have an irrigation system in place for my other 150+ trees, but I’m worried because my older trees still didn’t do well despite being watered. I’ll definitely try mulching. My soil does retain water after heavy rain, but it gets tough in the heat. Maybe I should plant the trees in the area where we grow vegetables since the soil is more manageable there.