Trees take off on pre-plant treatment

Winter 2019 | Rob Tassone trial | Australian Fruitgrower / Future Orchards®

Strong first-year growth is critical when redeveloping an orchard because delayed canopy fill postpones future yield. This Australian Fruitgrower article reports on a Rob Tassone trial examining pre-plant treatment in old apple ground.

The trial follows young trees after site preparation and compares their establishment response, providing growers with a practical view of whether intervention before planting can overcome replant constraints. The emphasis is on measurable tree performance rather than assumptions about treatment value.

The article also illustrates a useful trial approach for commercial orchards: establish comparable treatments, keep management consistent and measure tree growth so that decisions for larger redevelopment areas are based on local evidence.

For growers facing variable young-tree performance on replant sites, the resource is a reminder that establishment problems are expensive to correct later and are best investigated before or at planting.