Content
- Creating natural orchards - planning and implementation
- Location, size and planting
- Select the right fruit trees
- Create orchard meadow
- Tips & Tricks
Creating natural orchards - planning and implementation
Orchard meadows are an ancient form of agricultural land management. At the same time, they provide a home to numerous rare animals and plants, which is why these natural cultural areas are today often funded by the federal states, by the federal government or even by the EU.
Location, size and planting
Before you start the planting of the orchard meadow, it requires some planning. It is important to select a piece of land and the fruits to be planted. In general, these will be old varieties, but should be as little as possible susceptible to infestation by pests or fungi. The optimal orchard is located away from large roads or intensively cultivated fields. The area should be located in a sunny and sheltered location and have a loose, humic to loamy soil. Very sandy or damp locations, on the other hand, are less suitable.
Select the right fruit trees
An ecologically valuable orchard contains as many different types of fruit as monocultures are extremely susceptible to pests and diseases. At least half of the stock should consist of different apple varieties. Apple trees are very frugal and thrive almost everywhere. The same applies to plums. Other typical types of fruit for traditional orchards are
You should prefer old, endangered varieties of fruit that bloom and ripen as possible at different times.
Create orchard meadow
The fruit trees are planted in the autumn, but not at temperatures below 0 ° C and if possible in dry weather. Before digging the planting holes, pry open the grass sods - these are laid out around the tree trunk after planting with the grass side down. By this measure you insulate the grass growth, because especially with young trees the tree disc (= the root area) should remain free of any fouling. Secure the young tree with a support post that will stand the first five years. In addition, you should plant a hedge (possibly with berry-bearing shrubs) that houses birds. These are extremely useful, they simply eat insect pests away.
Tips & Tricks
Litter meadows are susceptible to root and field mice. Mouse populations can be curbed by building perch birds' birds of prey. In case of strong vole infestation, it also helps to plant the trees in wire baskets - these protect the roots.