Preparation

• 1). Measure the root ball of the peach tree. You will need to measure both the diameter and the height of the root ball to determine the size hole you will need to dig.
  
  
• 2). Dig a hole that is four to five times the diameter size of the root ball. The depth of the hole should be only three to five inches deeper than the height of the root ball.
  
  
• 3). Unwrap the peach tree root ball from any packaging. Using your fingers, gently loosen the soil and roots around the ball being careful to not tear or break any roots.
  
  
• 4). Fill a bucket that is large enough to hold the root ball with water. Place the tree into the bucket so that all of the root structure is completely submerged. Allow the roots to soak while you continue preparing the hole.
  
  
• 5). Add a one- or two-inch layer of organic compost to the bottom of the hole. Spread evenly around the entire hole, and then add a one- or two-inch layer of peat moss.
  
  

Planting

• 1). Remove the tree from the soak bucket and place into the center of the hole. If the top of the root ball does not meet the hole edge, remove the tree and add a few handfuls of dirt to the center of the hole for the tree to rest upon.
  
  
• 2). Break up the clay soil that you removed from the hole using a shovel or small spade. It is best to leave some native soil in the hole to help the tree grow. Once you've broken down the soil as small as possible, you can improve it by adding other ingredients.
  
  
• 3). Fill in the hole using a blend of the broken clay soil, organic compost, peat moss and organic topsoil. As you fill the hole, gently tamp down the soil blend. Do not press the soil so that it is compacted -- only use your hands to lightly press the soil into place.
  
  
• 4). Add enough soil so that the hole is completely filled in and mounds slightly around the base of the tree. Water the soil thoroughly so that it is completely damp but not saturated. If soil has compressed from watering, add another two to three inches of soil. Create a small moat around the base of the tree trunk with soil and fill with water.
  
  
• 5). Stake the tree into place if the tree is more than five feet tall. If you live in a location with frequent heavy winds, you may consider staking the tree in place even if it is smaller than five feet.