How to Fumigate the Ground Before Planting Apple Trees

Before you plant an entire apple orchard or even a single tree, it's important to prepare the ground to ensure your apple trees will be as healthy and productive as possible. Fumigating the soil your apple trees will grown in prevents pathogenic soil organisms, like bacteria, nematodes or fungi from damaging your apple trees' roots, resulting in small, weak trees that bear little fruit and may not even survive. Fumigating involves applying specific chemicals to the soil where you will plant your trees. It's not difficult and is definitely worth the effort.

Goggles
Face mask
Gloves
Spade
Hoe
Shovel
Hose
Water source
Handheld sprinkler
Fumigants
Plastic

Instructions

- 1
  Ensure the temperature is warm outside. Between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. The most ideal time to fumigate your soil is during the late summer to early fall.
- 2
  Determine which fumigants you need for the soil where you plan to plant your apple trees. Different parts of the world have different fumigant needs based on the local environment. Additionally, some areas allow only certified specialists to use certain fumigants. Your local garden center and county extension agency can help you decide which fumigants to use.
- 3
  Put on your goggles, face mask and gloves. Tie back your hair if it is long. Though the fumigants are unlikely to harm you, it's a good idea to protect yourself against the chemicals anyway.
- 4
  Loosen the soil where you will plant your tree using the shovel, spade and hoe. Use the shovel to dig down through the ground to the depth where you need to plant your particular apple trees. The spade will break through significantly hard dirt or help you dig out rocks or roots that are in the way. The hoe will allow you to spread and loosen the soil.
- 5
  Dispose of any rocks, roots or debris located around the planting site. These will impede the fumigant's ability to completely disperse through the soil.
- 6
  Check the soil to ensure it has the correct moisture content for the fumigants. Pick up a handful of soil and make it into a ball, like you would make a snowball. If you can make a ball that doesn't compact but easily splits apart, your soil is ready for fumigation. If your ball clumps and holds together the soil is too wet and you should wait a few hours for the soil to dry out. If the soil won't form a ball, it's too dry. Sprinkle some water over the area with a hose and sprinkler and recheck the soil.
- 7
  Put the fumigant onto the soil where you will plant your apple trees. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for this process; application methods for each fumigant product varies.
- 8
  Put the plastic over the fumigated area. Allow the fumigated ground to rest and the fumigant to disperse through the ground. Your specific fumigant will include how long this process will take. This process can take a few days to a few months.
- 9
  Remove the plastic. Follow any additional instructions included with your fumigant. Plant and enjoy your apple trees.

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