Preparing ground for fruit trees, what do they need?

[Rossa]

I'm getting some fruit trees next week. An apple, pear, greengage and cherry. All self fertile, ballerina (supercolumn) types.

I have a border that I want to put them in which needs some work doing before planting them out. What do I need apart from soil to get them established and happy growing? I have some chicken poo pellets, compost in my wormery, some bags of peat free multi purpose compost or can get some horse manure.

Which would be the best one (or combo) to use?

After planting what other care should I be aware of? They grow to max. 7' and only have spurs either side so pruning should be minimal. I guess I will need to put netting over the cherry to stop the birds, but is there anything else I should look out for?

[plotman]

Ive just bought some blueberry plants, Now ive been told they only like acid soil. Is this correct??

[Rossa]

Yes it is plotman. I grow mine in Ericaceous compost in a pot on the patio. Tried one in normal compost before and got almost nothing from it.

[chicken slave]

Fruit Trees:
I would give a good dusting of blood, fish and bone and scrumptious helping of a good compost. They need lots of water in there first year I have sunk a pop bottle with the end cut of next to mine so I can get the water where it is needed.
Blueberries:
I grow mine in large pots of ericaceous compost and give them a good ericaceous feed, they crop well so they must like it.

[TEB]

Ive just bought some blueberry plants, Now ive been told they only like acid soil. Is this correct??

Yes and you need to use rain water not tap water