 Orchard question
Hi, new member living in zone 6a (I believe) on the Delaware River/New Jersey - Pennsylvania border, USA. I recently bought 25 acres of land mostly forest that I have been cleaning (getting rid of brier bushes, vines, dead trees etc) so I can keep the forestry assessment (cuts down on the taxes). There is a piece of property (300 x 300 feet, I believe a little over two acres) that is filled with scrub forest, lots of dead old trees, lots of sticker bushes and vines. The vines killed off most of the trees years ago. I (think that I have) posted a picture that was taken in early December 2007. The land sits right next to a stream (approximately 6 feet across and 1 foot deep) but I also know that water runs across the property when it rains heavily. In fact, there is a dry bed that runs through the middle of the land that becomes a small stream when it rains. I want to tear down the remaining bushes, vines, dead trees etc and put in an orchard.
This is obviously a big task and I am concerned about creating a flood zone below my property (neighbor has a pasture with two horses). I would rather do the work myself over the winter months instead of paying someone else. I have a tractor with the proper implements for tearing out the bushes and putting in the posts etc. There are so many questions that I do not know where to start. I would like to put in apples, peaches, pears, grapes, raspberries and blueberries. I would like to buy different species that will cross pollinate but also that will become ripe at different times during each fruit?s season. I?m wondering if this is a job too big for someone who is never done something like this before. I have already cleared approximately 1 acre of land elsewhere in my property and planted 250 Christmas trees with very good success over the past year. After buying my transplants in western Pennsylvania, I now find myself receiving many fruit catalogs ? a bit overwhelming. Any suggestions in general or good books to help get me started. Is this job too big for me? Please someone tell me how to upload if no pix appears with this question.
Thanks. |