Arbutus: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you plant a strawberry tree?
Choose a sunny, sheltered position for strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, with freely draining soil. Check the cultivar’s eventual size and leave room around paths, walls and neighbouring plants. Avoid a hollow where water stands through winter. Autumn suits planting in mild conditions; in a colder garden, spring gives a young plant time to establish before winter. Do not plant in frozen or saturated ground.
Water the root ball before removing its container. Dig a broad hole, roughly two to three times its width, without making it deeper than the roots need. Loosen compacted sides. Support the root ball as you lift it from the pot, keeping it intact where roots are not congested. Set the first main roots at ground level, with the trunk base exposed rather than buried.
Backfill with the excavated soil, working it gently around the root ball. Avoid placing a thick layer of compost or fertiliser beneath it. Firm lightly and water to settle the soil. Add a stake only if the plant is unstable, using a flexible tie that does not rub the bark.
Mulch the surrounding ground while keeping the trunk base clear. Check moisture inside the original root ball during the first growing seasons, especially in dry weather. Water when needed without leaving the soil waterlogged. Drought tolerance improves after establishment; it does not remove a newly planted tree’s need for care.
When does the strawberry tree flower?
How do you prune a strawberry tree?
How do you harvest strawberry-tree fruit?
