Have you decided to plant trees in your back yard? Maybe you want to plant fruit trees? Fruit trees take some work to keep them healthy and producing. Pick the size of the tree based on your space available. Do you have an area with good soil? Do you have experience planting? Use the tips in this article to start planting your fruit trees.
Planting fruit trees in your yard can be productive. It provides shade for you and the whole family. Birds are also attracted and may be happy in building their nest on the trees. Growing trees can give you pleasure when they start to bear fruits.
If you plant a single-semi dwarf apple tree, in a season you can produce up to 500 apples. Its productive life can reach 20 years. There is also a tree that has a shorter span in producing fruits, and it can take 8 months up to one year depending on its harvest time.
The benefits of planting fruit trees are many, you have to consider many things including, the type and size of trees, the location of the trees to grow, the condition of the soil, and the maintenance. It’s not that easy to grow fruit trees, but you can fully enjoy the rewards when it bears fruit.
If you want to have a shady tree, an oak or maple tree is the best choice to plant. It can be grown several feet away from your home in your backyard. Make sure that your fruit trees are not planted near your fence. When they are grown, they can damage your fence and can cause trouble to your neighbors.
The soil conditions are also an important consideration. If you are in a community that always experiencing drought, you can choose a Russian olive tree, Peartree, and apple tree. These trees are well-suited for dry land. To improve the soil conditions you can add compost, mulch, or topsoil. Make sure to water the soil constantly. An arborist can recommend to you different trees that are appropriate to your soil.
All trees require maintenance, which is another consideration in growing fruit trees. During the first year, pruning fruit trees are very important to get rid of any dead limbs or branches. These limbs should be inspected for any pest infestations. Trees that are planted close to your houses should be pruned regularly.
There are three sizes of fruit trees that you can choose from. There are dwarf fruit trees, which are ideal for small spaces. They do very well in an 8’ diameter area. They are the easiest way to prune and harvest because they do not grow tall. The fruit has a normal size; the disadvantage is, it can produce less and has a shorter life span.
The semi-dwarf fruit tree requires a growing area of 15’ diameter, and they can range in height from 10 to 16’. They need annual pruning to keep the height down and the shape balanced. These trees are very productive; it can produce hundreds of fruit in one season.
The standard fruit trees are huge, which requires more space. It is more difficult to prune and harvest. At the peak of their growth, they can reach 40’ high, if left un-pruned. They are great for grandchildren to climb on and to attach a swing to it.
In choosing the trees to plant, it is helpful to go to the local nursery to check the different varieties. There are fruit trees that do not self-pollinate, so be ready with your pollinators.