Planting a pear tree is a relatively straightforward gardening chore. The most important thing to remember when planting any fruit tree is to take the time to prepare the planting hole properly. The time invested in preparing the planting hole is outweighed by the many years that your pear tree will grow in that location.
Before you start digging, it is important to choose a sunny spot. Pears produce best when they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If a pear tree doesn’t receive enough sunlight, it may not bloom, or the fruit may be weak.
Once you have settled on a location, it is time to start digging. Dig a hole that is approximately one and one half times as large as the container that your pear tree is planted in. As you remove the soil from the hole, place it on a plastic garbage bag or a tarp. This makes it much easier to shovel back into the hole later.
After your hole is complete, it is time to add something to enrich the soil. If you are lucky enough to have access to compost or well-rotted livestock manure, you have the perfect amendments. If not, visit your local garden center for bagged compost. Adding organic matter is important for several reasons. It adds nutrients to the soil and it helps the soil drain and hold water as necessary. This prevents the roots from drowning or drying out.
Add several shovels full of organic matter to the hole, along with several shovels of the dirt you removed from the hole. Mix the two lightly with your shovel and then smooth the dirt in the bottom of the hole. Gently remove the pear tree from its container and place it into the hole. When you begin to fill in the dirt around the pear tree it is helpful to have a friend to hold the trunk of the tree while you shovel in the dirt. This ensures that your tree will be straight. Use a mixture of organic matter and the soil that was removed from the hole to refill the area around the tree.
When you are finished, the tree should be planted at the same depth as it was in the container. Now water the pear tree thoroughly so that it gets a healthy start. Some of the dirt will compress when you water the tree, so it may be necessary to add a little additional dirt around the hole. You will probably have some additional dirt left over. This can be added to an existing flower bed or compost pile.
