DIY Network

Gardening Basics: Growing Fruit Trees You don't need a huge orchard to grow fruit trees successfully. From "Dirt On Gardening" episode DDOG-107

Fruit tree specialist Ed Laivo

If you want to get a start growing fruit trees in your back yard, consider trying apples. With apple trees, you can hardly go wrong--no matter what area of the country you live in. There's an apple tree perfect for your growing region. Fruit-tree expert Ed Laivo offers some tips for selecting and planting fruit trees, even if you don't have an "orchard-sized" backyard.

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	Fruit Trees come bare root or in a container.
	Wherever you plant your fruit tree, make sure you have good drainage.

Planting Fruit Trees in Small Spaces

According to fruit-tree specialist Ed Laivo, you don't need an orchard to grow fruit trees as long as you manage the trees the right way. Fruit trees can be grown in a small area using raised beds. (The beds shown in our demonstration are about 36" x 40".) Any variety of fruit tree can be planted in high density planting situations provided you use the right pruning techniques.

Most fruit trees can be planted whenever the gardener is ready to plant. The greatest selection to choose from is in January and February. At the nursery, the trees may come bare root or in a container. Look for regionally adapted varieties to make sure your selection is one that will thrive in your area. Consider your climate conditions, prevalent diseases and fruit type that you desire.

One critical consideration when planting fruit trees is adequate drainage. Here's a simple test to ensure that the soil where you intend to plant has adequate drainage: Before you plant in a specific area, dig a hole and fill it with water. If it takes longer than three to four hours for the water to disappear, you've got poor drainage.

Planting in raised beds is one good method for planting if your soil doesn't naturally have good drainage. The young tree should be planted so that the crown of the root system is just level with the soil surface.

Pruning is essential to keep the trees small, compact and robust in the high-density planting situation. It's best to start "training" the tree to compact size when they're young. A good rule of thumb when starting a new fruit tree is to cut it off--once planted--at about knee level. A newly cut sapling will, of course, not bear fruit for a while, but it should be ready to grow fruit the following year. Managing the fruit trees in this manner keeps the growth canopy low and keeps your fruit and an easily accessible height.

Another popular planting strategy is to create a "hedge row" of fruit trees along a back fence. Space the trees from three to five feet apart.

Tip: Selecting an Apple Tree

There are numerous apple varieties to choose from. If you're new to fruit-growing, hardy varieties that can be grown almost anywhere across the country include fuji, gala, honey crisp and pink lady.

Tip: Good Fruit-Tree Combinations

When growing fruit trees in high-density planting situations, here are some suggestions for types that you may want to try growing together:

• peaches and nectarines;
  
• apricots and pluots;
  
• apricots an plumbs.

Home-Turf Tip: South/Southeast: In the southern US, codling moths emerge in early spring when night temperatures are at about 62. The moths lay eggs and, when the larvae emerge, they attack the fruit on your fruit trees. Later, when the larvae turn to moths, those lay eggs and the cycle starts again--and that cycle can occur up to three times in a growing season. To control codling moths, start in early spring. Here are some suggestions for dealing with these invaders:

• Remove fallen fruit and limbs from around your trees.
  
• Set codling moth traps to help eliminate adults and alert you to the degree of the problem.
  
• Pick and remove any fruit from the tree that has holes in it. These likely contain codling moth larvae.