January is a great time to get some fruit trees planted.  Normally it is not this dry, so you better be planning to water regularly.  Just dig a hole about as deep as the root system of the tree.  Add some compost and a little bit of Osmocote to the mix.  I like to recommend dipping the roots with root stimulator.  Root stimulator makes the process not so rough on the plant.

Something that you need to do, and that is to trust your vender.  They know what to recommend as far as how to plant and what varieties of trees to plant for our area.

Peach-  Ruston Red – Elberta
Plums- Bruce – Methley – Santa Rosa
Blueberry – Tifblue- Climax – Powder Blue – Premier
Apple – Anna – Dorsett – Inn Chinier
Figs- Celeste – Brown turkey
Pear – Orient- Moonglow
Muscadine – Cowart – Carlos
Japanese Persimmons
Fruiting Mulbury
Blackberries –  Navajo – Arapao – Natchez

That was a list of the North Louisiana trees to plant.  There is no need to plant a variety that is not on the list because they most likely will not succeed.  I got this list from James Culpepper at Culpepper Nursery.  James is local and does a great job with his plants.  He can also tell you just the right way to plant them.  So, if you are wanting to plant an orchard or just a backyard of trees, it’s time to go with it.

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal. Email Mitzi questions at  mitzithomas40@yahoo.com.)