FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The site where the edible plant landscape will be implanted must have some characteristics that are both crucial and non-negotiable for the success and perenity of the project. The site must be in a “full sun” exposition, meaning that it must get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. That amount of sunlight makes it possible for the plants to grow and reach their full potential, for the trees to stay compact and thick, and for the fruits to be sweeter, tastier and more colourful.
The site must be well drained for at least 4 feet (1 m) deep in every season. Of course, when the snow melts, the soil will become saturated with water, which is an important and useful process; but after that period, the trees must not be in a low-level terrain where water accumulates during heavy rains, since that would make the roots rot.
The site must not be an area where a lot of snow will be pushed or blown, because the snow stream and the snow removal equipment could damage the branches and the plants, which would hinder their health and growth.
Finally, to avoid complaints, it is strongly suggested that trees not be placed where they would overhang parking spaces or paved walkways to avoid breakage, stains, injuries and other problems caused by falling fruits or fruits that have fallen to the ground.
Fruit that is left on the trees after the suggested harvest date can become a problem. When they fall to the ground and decompose, the area becomes slippery and dirty and tends to attract wasps. It will therefore be important to promote the urban orchards to prevent the problem of rotting fruits and to ensure that citizens are the first to benefit from the fruits.
Signs indicating that fruit picking is permitted and encouraged will surely incite passers-by to take an interest in the edible landscape. These explanatory signs posted near the fruit-bearing plants and trees will provide all the information visitors need to plan ahead and know when to come pick the fruits. Since fruits will be available at all times starting in June, we can expect that people from the neighbourhood and surrounding areas to discover the site and come back often enough to pick all the fruits once they ripen.
We also suggest that the surplus fruits be donated to local organizations that help those in need. We will be pleased to introduce them to you, to ensure optimal use of the fruits and to participate in our civic duty by giving back to others.
Many innovative cities have tried to introduce fruit trees in urban areas. One of the main mistakes has been to replace the trees on the street side with fruit trees. The idea itself was not a bad one, but its application created a host of problems: fruits falling on passers-by and on cars parked under the trees; slippery and sticky sidewalks; trees whose branches were cut to allow passage underneath them, but whose height made it impossible to reach the fruits; trees subjected to pollution and de-icing salts that prevented them from producing in abundance. So while it may seem easier to replace some trees with others, it’s simply not a good idea, and an urban orchard would provide all the benefits without the drawbacks.
Normally, yes, but not with us. Let us explain why that is so. When we plant our trees, we do a thorough soil analysis that allows us to correct any deficiencies that could prevent the trees from developing to their full potential. As a result, the trees are vigorous and healthy and do not need annual treatment. Soil correction adapted to each site will ensure that the trees will grow well, resist our harsh winters and produce abundant crops year after year.
On the other hand, there is one factor that remains out of our control: the weather. A late frost or an episode of heavy hail are natural incidents against which it is impossible to protect ourselves and which threaten all fruit growers. That is why we can never guarantee the total success of a project. However, by combining a perfectly balanced soil and a selection of fruit plants that are resistant to the most common diseases, we can expect fruits that will be very appetizing without the need of any treatment.
We strongly suggest that the trees and shrubs maintenance be done by the Délicieux Décors team during the first 4 years of the contract. This means that you will not have to take care of the pruning and watering duties or the maintenance of the site. On the other hand, if you choose to do it yourself, we can offer to train the horticulturists who will have to take care of the landscaping. With this training, they will have a good understanding of the particularities of fruit tree maintenance and the methods used to ensure the sustainability of the fruit production. Once this is understood, the maintenance of a fruit tree is no more demanding than that of any other type of trees.
Bees are our allies, and we must do everything in our power to help them. They are not aggressive insects, unless directly attacked, so they are generally not problematic. Moreover, they are essential for pollination. In our landscapes, we have a two-way relationship with the bees: on the one hand, they pollinate flowers and make it possible for the trees to produce fruits; on the other hand, we offer them a feast of flowers throughout the whole growing season. In fact, all our trees will be covered with flowers as early as spring, and since our projects also include dozens of flowering perennials with various flowering times, the bees will have a continuous access to food. This cohabitation between fruit and flower plants is one of the attractions of our urban orchard projects.
As for the wasps, they are the more aggressive of our black and yellow allies. However, they help us by eating aphids, caterpillars and a host of other insects that are harmful to fruit trees and ornamental plants. They also play a small role in pollination. Unfortunately, wasps have a very bad reputation and are often seen as pests to be destroyed.
Public garbage cans are often attractive to wasps, so periodic and proper site maintenance is essential to minimize the presence of these insects. To give you an example, when you go to commercial orchards to pick apples, you don’t find more wasps there than anywhere else. That’s because the apples are systematically picked before they fall to the ground. The same happens in our arrangements, because it’s not the fruits in the trees and shrubs that interest wasps, but the very ripe and very sweet ones left on the ground. To prevent this problem, our team will collect the fallen fruits during the maintenance visits, which is a service included in our contract.
