I planted three pear, three peach and three cherry trees in December of 02. The ground was frozen, but I had already dug the holes. So, I went ahead and planted the trees using my own blend of soil as backfill. The blend was whatever I could find at the local hardware store, mostly top soil, composted cow manure, peat moss, and sand. The trees lived, but due to the non-native soil, they settled into the ground creating a low depression where water stood around the trees after every significant rain. I eventually removed some of the native soil around the trees so the roots would not be so deep, of course this made the depression larger (not deeper). All of the pear, peach and cherry trees lived. The PEACH and PEARS have produced large crops and are very healthy trees. The cherry trees seen some what stressed and have produced litte in the way of a crop. What have caused the stress may be a combination of things, not all related to the standing water that occurs from time to time.

The fact you have M111 root stock and your soil is sandy loam hopefully will work in your favor. I did not have M111 root stock and my soil is mostly clay.

Previouly in 01 I had planted six apple trees. I have lost three of these trees and one was probably from standing water around it. However, three of these apple trees are still living and produce a nice crop each year. These trees were planted in the same general area, but did not sink as much as I mixed native soil with my amendments. I have 50 trees now and most of them were planted in amended soil and drainage has been a problem after rains, but can say I have only lost one tree from what I believe was a drainage problem.

Thanks for the response. Your success gives me some reassurance. It's interesting your peach trees have remained healthy in the wet clay. I have no practical experience in orchard farming, but everything I've read leads me to believe that poorly drained soil will kill a peach tree quickly.

Thanks again.
Tom Anderson

I little standing water after prolonged rain should not be a problem as long as the soil drains. If the soil, is consistantly wet, you will have a problem. Peaches are generally more tolerant of wet soils than some other types of fruit trees. Nemaguard is somewhat less tolerant of a rootstock, but if you have sandy soil that drains well, than you have chosen a good rootstock.