Late winter is planting season in our orchard. While the trees may look quiet this time of year, this is when some of the most important work happens, shaping the harvests you’ll enjoy years from now. One of those essential winter tasks is replanting.

Replanting is exactly what it sounds like: removing older or underperforming trees and replacing them with new ones. Trees, like people, age. Some slow down after decades of production, some never quite thrive, and sometimes we discover new varieties that are better suited to our land or to the needs of our community. As Farmer Al says, caring for an orchard is a lot like caring for your own health—you brush your teeth every day, but occasionally you need to go to the dentist to get deeper work based on age and wear. Replanting is that deeper care.

Recycling and Renewal

At Frog Hollow Farm, replanting is part of an ongoing renewal process. Each spring, we conduct orchard surveys, evaluating tree health block by block and sometimes tree by tree. When we notice groups of trees that aren’t performing well, we make thoughtful decisions about how to restore those areas. As we celebrate our 50th year of farming, many of our orchards are reaching a point where restoration is essential. That’s why replanting has become a yearly practice, helping ensure the long-term health and productivity of the farm.

This winter, we replanted a one-acre block that was previously home to apricot trees. About 15 years ago, we experimented with a new apricot variety there. While we farmed those trees for nearly a decade, they never produced as well as we’d hoped. Two years ago, we made the decision to remove them and start fresh. Roughly 250 apricot trees were taken out, shredded, and returned to our compost pile as a valuable source of carbon; nothing is wasted, everything is cycled back into the system.

This month, in their place, we planted Autumn Flame peaches, a tried-and-true variety we know and love. Peaches are something we often run short on toward the end of the season, so expanding our acreage with a reliable variety helps us meet demand while staying rooted in what grows best here. The trees arrived from the nursery in January and were carefully cared for until conditions were just right for planting.

The Right Conditions & Skilled Hands

We aim to plant during a dry spell so the ground isn’t overly saturated, but still holds enough moisture. This year, the soil was just right: loose, dark, and slightly moist. That kind of soil allows us to fully cover the roots without leaving air pockets, while keeping the young trees hydrated and stable. Even better, we planted just ahead of a rainstorm, giving the trees natural irrigation right after planting.

Planting itself is a skilled process, and we rely on our experienced tree team to get it right. Each tree is oriented with the rootstock joint facing north to protect it from sunburn and help it stand up to prevailing winds. Before planting, roots are trimmed and treated with Galltrol, a beneficial microbial solution that helps prevent crown gall disease by protecting fresh root wounds.

Good Things Take Time

So when can you expect fruit from these new trees? This first year is all about establishing strong roots and healthy growth above ground, hopefully reaching four to five feet tall. At the end of the year, we’ll prune to select strong structural branches. In the second year, the trees should reach six to seven feet before being pruned back again to reinforce their framework. By the third year, we expect to harvest about a box of peaches per tree.

Replanting is an investment in the future that we’re excited to watch grow. These young trees represent renewal, resilience, and our ongoing commitment to caring for this land for generations to come.