Apple trees don’t like to be waterlogged. Tree roots try to grow in spring — their one shot each year to put on new growth — but this is tough if you’re stuck in standing water for the month of May. So with spring on its way, our apple growers at Champlain Orchards need to ensure that their clay soils (which, unlike sandy ones, retain a lot of water in spring) drain efficiently.

What to do? Gear up to install thousands of feet — all told, three miles worth — of drainage tile, coiled black pipe that will run underground along the length of the orchard block to help water drain from the soil. This requires using an excavator to dig a long ditch, then backfilling it with stone before installing the tile.

If things go well, this job will take about two weeks of continuous work in March. Our tree roots will be happy all spring long — moist, but not saturated.

Five Acre Farms. Positively Local.TM