Audrey, a volunteer, mulching an apple tree with straw in Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard in Toronto

It’s spring. Our fruit trees are growing. And while we humans need a hearty breakfast to help fuel us for the day, fruit trees also need a good meal at the start of their growing season. That’s because, after emerging from dormancy, they are preparing for an action-filled time in which they will grow leaves, blossoms and branches and produce a harvest for us to enjoy. We can help them along by amending their soil with nutrient-rich mulch.

This year during our stewardship session on May 16th, we had an extra challenge. Grass and weeds have, over the years, crept into our mulch circles and so our task was to clear out and widen the mulch circles. Then we layered on an inch or two of rich compost and covered it up with some organic straw that will slowly break down and release nutrients as the year goes on.

Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard coordinator Susan Poizner widening the mulch circle around an apple tree.

But there’s more mulching to do! On May 16th our wonderful and hard working crew of 10 volunteers were also weeding our beautiful pollinator garden and there is still lots to be done. So the mulching and the weeding will continue at our next stewardship day on May 31st at 10 am. Come and join us! For more information email Lynn at growingforgreen (at) gmail.com.

Alex having fun on mulching day in Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard

This blog was written by Susan Poizner, the author of the award-winning fruit tree care book “Growing Urban Orchards“. Susan teaches North Americans how to grow fruit trees organically at www.orchardpeople.com.