Choosing a Fruit Tree

 Backyard Garden, balcony garden  No Responses »
Apr 062009
 

Choosing a tree for the backyard can be a challenging task as there are many considerations to take into account. Size, purpose and endurance are only a few decisions to be made. Often selecting a fruit tree can be an easier choice, as you will have a preference for the fruit you wish to grow and most fruit trees are smaller trees. Flowers in Hawaii
Creative Commons License photo credit: coconut wireless

Planting and Caring for a New Fruit Tree

First see what available room you will have in your backyard. This will decide if you buy an espalier tree, dwarf or semi-dwarf fruit tree. Next you will want to select the fruit variety you want. You will have to take into consideration your climate and if you need another tree to help with pollination, or if this fruit will grow in your area.

Shop around for a good value in a fruit tree, but more importantly, a healthy tree. It’s best to buy from a local nursery that has been in business for years.  And before I purchase the tree I have already chose the location for the tree and have a hole dug so that I can take the tree home and plant it immediately.

Once home check the size of the hole you have dug for the tree.  You want the hole to be twice as wide as the root clump, and just a little less deep. The reason for the hole being slightly bigger than the roots is that this allows room for the soil that you dug out to be put back in.

Place a small amount of fertilizer in the hole and take a good look at the roots of the fruit tree. If there are any roots that are damaged clip them off. Also make sure the roots are not knotted up. You want them to be able to grow up and spread.

I mix a little compost in with the dig that I removed for the hole. Next place half the dirt in the hole and water well. As you plant the tree make sure the tree is standing straight and not leaning. You may need someone to help and hold it in place. Finish filling in the hole and water one more time. Tamp the soil in place. You will want the soil to be a couple of inches higher than the rest of the yard. In time the soil will settle and this will make your tree base even with the rest of the yard.

Tip: You may want to stake the tree in place to that it stays vertical and does not bend in the wind.

Your fruit tree should start producing fruit in three to five years after planting.

Once your tree starts to produce a lot of fruit you should periodically pick off some of the unripe fruit so that the branches aren’t weighed down too much. Remove the small or deformed fruit. If the fruit gets too thick, the branches can break off from the weight and by picking off fruit, what is left on the tree will be bigger.
Creative Commons License photo credit: cooljinny

Fruit trees will need pruned and checked for insect problems each year. But if properly cared for will produce for years to come and add value and beauty to your backyard oasis.

Posted by Denise at 10:14 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Backyard Garden: Growing Fruit in your Backyard

 Backyard Garden  No Responses »
Jan 302009
 

The Backyard garden adds one more dimension to your yard and it’s surprising how the addition of plants seem to enlarge your backyard and adds to the relaxing feeling you are trying to create. Your backyard garden area should be an extension of what you like both in design, color and use.

My backyard always has a mix of flowers, vegetables and herbs. They grow in raised beds, theme gardens and hanging baskets. I guess you would call it a backyard jungle. But it’s relaxing and fun. And that is what gardening should be, fun!

Flowers tend to be the easiest gardens followed by vegetables and the last garden variety that tends to be more work are fruit gardens. Fruit gardens need more maintenance to keep insects away. Insects are attracted to the sweet in the fruit and don’t like to take no for an answer

In order to make sure you have a healthy fruit crop you will have to decide if you use a chemical for insect control or use natural insect control. I always use natural pest control that I mix up using home ingredients. I also hand pick insects if necessary. I may loose a few fruits this way but its worth it knowing I have healthy produce and have not hurt the environment.

My backyard fruit garden consist of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. I also grow melons in the garden area. These smaller fruits produce well and are relatively insect free. This is because I make sure I have the best-fertilized soil I can mix up and use a heavy ground cover to keep moisture in the soil. I also grow a few fruit crops in hanging baskets.

My larger fruits do include fruit trees, which is a whole other category when it comes to care

When considering fruit trees I would carefully check your growing zone conditions and take into consideration how much space a fruit tree will take. You will also need to check and see if the fruit trees you select need another tree to help pollinate the fruit crop.

Dwarf trees or espalier trees may be a consideration. They take less space and espalier fruit trees are very pretty and often are used to help create privacy in smaller backyards.

Fruit trees need to have sun and be located in an area where the wind can move through the trees. Growing too close to a larger tree or a building that blocks sun and air current will cut back on your fruit crop. One last consideration is do you have the time to prune your trees? Fruit trees need pruning to keep the tree healthy and let the sun get to the fruit.

Growing fruit in your backyard garden oasis will add more work but there is nothing quite as nice in the morning than a fresh peach that is warmed by the sun or homemade strawberry shortcake. As with all gardening and additions to your backyard oasis you need to consider time and the additional value it adds to your property and your needs.

Posted by Denise at 11:43 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,
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