Jan. 12, 2025

6 Jan 2024

I tested my new hole makers, one manual spiral auger, which makes a nice uniform hole about 10cm wide and 20-30cm deep. It takes about 20 seconds to make. I also tested the heavy pole bar, which weighs almost 10kg and you just shove it into the ground with gravity. Two punches in the same place makes a hole deep enough, it takes about 5 seconds. Although the hole isn’t very wide, it’s more of a wedge. Both methods work really well and will probably use both depending on the size of the root that I’m planting. Excellent news there! I won’t go back to the large trench method any time soon. 

Summary of time estimates for the new hole methods…

• Manual Spiral Auger: 20 second dig out. 20 second dig in. = 66 mins per 100 plants
• Heavy bar: 10 second dig out. 10 second dig in. = 33 mins per 100
• Trench: 40 minutes per 25 = 160 mins per 100 (2.6h)

Next, I need to finish off planting the onions, another 3 hours of work there. Then I’ve ordered about 150 pioneer trees, the fasting growing variety, and they’ll be coming early next week. Once they’re in, I can get onto the berry shrubs, some of which I’ll buy new and I’ll transplant what have growing in my garden. Ideally, I’d like to get at least one plant of each berry variety.

7 Jan 2024

Planted in half the pioneer trees today, including a little avenue style entrance to the plot, where I put Willows in a line. It's looking awesome now. I'm planting the pioneers between the existing fruit trees, but also where I haven't got any yet. So I'm expanding the area which I have covered, which should be the entire width of the field by the end of tomorrow.

12 Jan

All the pioneers are planted now - 175 in total. 3 days of work in the freezing cold. The ground had started to freeze up towards the last days, but only the top layer. In the end, the best method for digging a tree hole in using a garden fork... Who knew the answer would be so simple. It's about 30-60 seconds to dig a plant a single tree, range depending on how spread out the roots are. The digger trench method is definitely the hardest as its the most soil to put back in, won't be doing that again. The spiral tool and heavy bar will still come in useful. It all depends on the size and width of the tree roots.

Am happy I got it all in. Next I will be adding protection for these trees, including a bamboo stake, cardboard mulch, and plastic guards against rabbits and deer. The rabbits had already found some apple trees and started eating the bark which could be devasting if they catch on fully to all these new food! Protection will be number one focus for the next few weeks.

 

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