How to Keep Water in the Soil with Bill Wilson

Explore what soil biology can reveal about fruit tree health - and how compost, mulch, root-zone conditions, observation, and ongoing care can help fruit trees thrive.

We often think about watering, pruning, and fertilizing when a fruit tree struggles. In this Classic Episode, Dr. Glynn Percival explores another possibility: compacted soil. Learn what vertical mulching is, when it may help, and why healthy roots begin with healthy soil.

In this classic Orchard People podcast episode, explore why some fruit trees grow vigorously while others struggle for years before producing fruit, with fruit tree physiologist John Cline about the science behind fruit tree growth, productivity, and early fruiting. John Cline Ph.D, is a professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, at the University of Guelph in Ontario. Together, they explore how rootstocks, pruning, branch training, soil conditions, sunlight, watering, and tree genetics all influence how quickly fruit trees establish and produce harvests. This conversation originally helped inspire Susan’s book Grow Fruit Trees Fast and remains one of Orchard People’s foundational discussions on young fruit tree care. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The difference between vigor and precocity • Why some fruit tree varieties grow faster than others • How rootstocks affect tree size and productivity • Why branch bending can encourage earlier fruiting • When pruning stimulates growth — and when it delays harvests • How soil, sunlight, and irrigation influence tree health • Common mistakes that slow young fruit trees down

Learn how watering and feeding fruit trees work together with arborist, author, and educator Casey Clapp on this episode of the Orchard People Radio Show. Casey is the co-host of Completely Arbortrary and an arborist based in Portland, Oregon. Learn more: https://caseyclapp.com https://arbortrarypod.com https://www.gofundme.com/manage/yearofthecone The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.

What do all those numbers on a soil test actually mean? In this episode of the Orchard People podcast, Susan Poizner speaks with soil educator Ariel Agenbroad about how to read a soil test for fruit trees and how to interpret results like pH, organic matter, nitrogen, and electrical conductivity.