Planting And Caring For
Fruit Trees

If you buy your fruit trees from a nursery, be particularly careful how you transport them. A friend of mine put a tree in the back of his truck, but clipped a sign on the way home. The end result was that entire tree snapped in half, and my friend was left a very unhappy man.

Once you have your tree safely back to your garden, check the bottom to see how large the roots are.

It may seem like a lot of work now, but you should dig a hole that is twice as wide as the clump, and just a little less deep. After you have dug the hole, line it with compost or fertilizer and water well so that the tree will get off to a good start.

Then set your fruit tree into the hole, and spread the roots out evenly so that the tree will be strong and stable. Ensure that the tree is straight, replace the earth and firm up as necessary.

If you have pets or you live in an area where wildlife can access your backyard, then you should put a small fence around your tree to help protect it, because some animals may scratch at the base of the trunk, decide to use it as a toilet or eat the bark off, none of which is of any benefit to your tree.

Your fruit tree if successfully planted will start to bear fruit after approximately 3 years, and once it starts to carry a lot of fruit you should periodically pick some of the fruit so that the branches aren't weighed down too much and break under the strain.

What's More...

In some years you may find that your tree does not bear as much fruit, but this should not be a concern. Even healthy trees often take years on “vacation” where they produce little or no fruit. Having said that it's possible that your tree has seen better days and tree removal may be the only option.

Unfortunately other creatures also have a liking for fruit, so you will need to keep your open for troublesome pests. To help keep these pests away, rake away old leaves, and brush any other decaying matter away that could be carrying bugs, occasional spraying may be required.

To ensure that your tree always stay as healthy as possible you should prune during late fall to spring. There are a number of exceptions to this such as cordons, fans, pyramids etc.

You should ensure that trees are watered every two weeks during the dry weather, and take care not to hit your tree with a lawn mower or a weed eater, because doing so could severely damage the growth process.

Harvesting your fruit...

If you have tall trees where the fruit is difficult to reach you may want to invest in fruit picker in order get to the best fruit without having to climb a ladder.

Apple Trees
Nothing quite beats the taste of home grown apples

Cherry Trees
Well known for their delicious fruits, and are popular for their beautiful flowers and blossoms

Montmorency Cherry Tree
These wonderful cherries have shown over the years to be excellent for both cooking and pie making.

Rainier Cherry Tree
The sweetness is what continues to keep cherry lovers coming back for more

Peach Trees
For wonderful blossoms and outstanding fruit

Pear Tree
Absolutely delicious, and rich in fibre and nutrients

Buying A Fruit Tree
Which type of tree should you choose for your back garden?