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Topsoil Structure for Fruit Trees and Orchards
Topsoil for fruit trees
With so many types of fruit trees and fruit bearing shrubs available to the health-inspired gardener, it has never been more important to ensure that topsoil is in the best condition.
Fruit trees require good nutrient rich topsoil and a friable soil structure to enable them to thrive and bear the highest yielding crops for their owners. Like all plants, fruit trees and orchards need a good quality soil structure to be successful - but what do we mean by good topsoil structure?
The first thing that a good topsoil structure should provide is to encourage good drainage. Roots from fruit trees need to remain out of standing water or boggy conditions, and whilst they require access to moisture to enable the intake of nutrients and minerals from the topsoil that are essential to their success, drowning is not something that’s on the list!
The next important thing that a good topsoil structure will enable is the ability to provide the necessary nutrients and minerals that will make sure that leaves and branches develop fully. This will aid photosynthesis which, together with the nutrients and moisture from the topsoil will ensure that fruit is given all the food required to grow healthily and strongly. When it’s time for harvesting, a gardener who looks after their topsoil will reap the rewards.
Topsoil composition
Topsoil is roughly composed of 25% water, 25% air, 45% minerals and 5% organic matter. If the soil is found to be too heavy, or is draining poorly, then further organic matter could be introduced to improve the soil’s friability – the ability to break up and crumble which assists with drainage.
Finally, fruit trees and orchards may need to compete with weeds, such as the deep rooted dandelion. In order to protect the topsoil from weed infestation and the fruit trees from unnecessary competition, weeds should be removed or bark mulch could be added. The latter is especially useful if the topsoil structure needs improving at the same time as inhibiting weeds.
Topsoil from Rolawn
Rolawn sell the best quality fruit topsoil. For further information about choosing or improving your topsoil, contact one of our soil customer service advisers by calling 0845 604 6050 or by emailing info@rolawn.co.uk.