Starting an orchard?

[Danjal]

We use paintballs on deer here. They get the point. My next step is using the Marlin or Remington.

[Oldschool]

I like the orchard idea for long term thinkers but it takes planning.I have had much better luck with wild varieties of berries and grapes like old school huckleberries and muscadines on our back 40 wood lot.We have a few of pecan trees that border our property about 50 yards off a dirt county road and my grandson (12) keeps them picked up and sells some to a local produce guy to make himself some “beans and bullets money” .I don’t know where that kid picks stuff like that up .Last year he came back to the house and said a man and a lady were picking up the pecans and told him they were there first.I got my pickup and go check it out and sure enough there they were.This guy said “I didn’t think a neighbor would begrudge us picking up a few handfuls of pecans.I said well I certainly wouldn’t if you had asked .We worked out a deal and long story short he picks up pecans on halves he brings half of what he picks up to me and keeps the other half for him and his family .This got me to thinking though .Things are relatively good right now but what if the what if happens .Orchards ,grape vines ect. are highly visible in times of trouble I’m afraid deer and wild life may be the least of our problems .My solution is working ok so far as my neighbor guards those pecan trees very jealously I even gave him the “authority “to run off trespassers it’s sort of comical as his wife gets every one of them on her cell phone camera ,I didn’t realize how many folks stopped in to pick up a “hand full or two” makes me wonder what if .

[Messiah Jones]

 Well I got my trees on Friday. I ordered them from Burgess which I've had good luck from before. Just don't hold your breath. You won't be able to contact them and you'll have no idea when they'll arrive... But they will. Cheaper than anywhere else and about 2 weeks past ideal planting weather. (They ship according to weather) which is pretty accurate. But a person needs a heads up for Petes sake! BAM! Here's 40 trees for you to plant! Hope you didn't have plans.

Tomorrow! The plan is to plant on the top of the swales in our field. They hold a lot of water and this would keep them elevated compared to the reservoirs. The field was designed for this but I'm still a newbie. Room for a lot of mistakes on my part. I bought a bunch of fruit trees as well as hybrid non-weeping willows for a privacy screen. I got a bunch of "Mycormax" to help out as suggested above. The trees are all 3-4' sticks with bare roots. Advice is welcome. Last chance.

[MxwllBkr]

I’m New at this as well..... put in 24 assorted trees last year, apples,plums,cherries,peaches and pears. First thing I did was get rid of the plastic wrap at the base of the trees and instead protected them with 1/4” hardwear mesh, up 18” or to the lowest branch. Keep the wire 4ish inches away from the trunks, you don’t want them rubbing!  I’m not sure how tall your trees are coming if they are fairly short maybe leave that wrap on them (if they even have them...) until they get a little taller...... but from everything I’ve read the wrap will do more harm then good.....especially once they get older......
  get a tensiometer this will tell you if your trees are thirsty or (drowning) from to much water, this is the type I have: https://www.amazon.com/Irrometer-Model-SR-12-Inch/dp/B01607N5TY/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?adgrpid=56353031219&hvadid=274707183587&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9002484&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t2&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7599242891520007258&hvtargid=aud-648254335185%3Akwd-21739106&keywords=tensiometer&qid=1555367899&s=gateway&sr=8-7 pay attention to the length......
   Sounds like these are all coming pruned down, which is a good thing and what you want, so the first year the trees will concentrate on making good roots...   speaking of which if you can get away with it do not use any stakes or guy lines to keep the trees up. This again discourages root growth.....
  You probably won’t have to prune anything this year, but next year during the dormant season (winter/early spring) just watch a bunch of YouTube videos you’ll get the hang of it!


Disclaimer: I’ve only had my orchard for one year, this is everything I remember researching last year, an “expert” I am not! 
 

[1911crazy]

I planted all kinds of apples, pears, cherry, peach trees. The deer and bear share them.

[Messiah Jones]

 Most of the “orchard” survived! I’ll give an update in the spring but so far so good. The deer haven’t damaged anything yet! Some trees have fenced protection but most don’t. Strangely, the trees that didn’t make it were the ones that were supposed to grow like weeds... the willows. I planted 22 willows and only 1 survived. I was trying to create a privacy fence with them. We’ll see if that 1 tree comes back in the spring. I’ve had great luck with the Dawn Redwoods. If you don’t know what they are look them up. I have 3 live ones currently and plan to add more. When I say these things I’m talking about 2 different properties. The baby orchard is at home while the Dawn Redwood life dream forest is in Southern MO. My lesson learned is that these little sticks bought from distant nurseries will take off given the chance and if you keep the deer away. Hopefully I’ll live to see fruit in my lifetime.