Using Fruit Trees In A Small Garden
July 15, 2008
I think that we are all starting to begin to realize that the vast majority of us should make at least some change in the way we lead our lives. Nearly all of us could take more exercise on a regular basis and many of us could vastly improve our diets by introducing more fresh fruit and vegetables. A great way in which to get more fresh fruit is to grow your very own fruit trees in your backyard. Unfortunately, for most of us, we have a backyard which is a rather small space and therefore we are severely limited in which plants we can grow.
A great many of us understand that the fresher the fruit the healthier it is for us. Unfortunately the longer fruit is stored the lesser the vitamin and mineral content. Although most of us are beginning to understand the many advantages of eating organic produce the additional cost often means that few of us can afford the luxury. Happily, by growing fruit trees in our backyards, we can produce 100% organic fruit that is the freshest possible (we pick it and immediately eat it).
Today’s modern home in an urban setting often only has a very small space for a backyard garden. Such homes are usually very close together which can cause some problems, especially if you plan to plant fruit trees. Unfortunately most tree species can grow to an enormous size. A large tree in a small space can be the source of some very serious problems. Often the roots of a tree extend much further than people would think and, on a large tree this can lead to serious damage to foundations. There are also many other problems such as the shrub blocking the light but the most obvious and visible problem is the simple fact that a large tree in a small space just looks ridiculous and leaves little space for a garden.
It is surprising what can be created in such a small space as an urban backyard. Professional garden designers can create truly spectacular gardens in the smallest possible space. However, if you can not afford professional services it is perfectly possible to design a garden yourself. To create a suitable design you will need to spend a little time investigating which plants will be most suitable for use in small spaces.
Adding a point of interest to a smaller backyard can be problematic but one solution can be the addition of fruit trees. During the different seasons of the year a fruit tree will look vastly different. Even in the winter, a bare tree with frosted branches from which icicles hang, can look great but it is in the spring when it will look its finest. Spring is when the fruit tree will be covered in sweet smelling and fantastic looking blossom why, by fall, will (if fertilized) develop into fruit ready for harvest.
Dwarf fruit tree varieties have improved greatly in recent decades. The development of the dwarf root stock M9 (onto which the main stem of the fruit tree is grafted) has led to the creation of varieties which remain small but also manage to produce more fruit than previous dwarf varieties.
Incredibly it is now possible to purchase dwarf or compact fruit trees that will rarely, if ever, exceed a height of about 1.8m while still being able to produce the amount of fruit usually produced by a much larger tree. If 1.8m is too tall for your backyard you can plant the tree in a container which will slow and restrict growth. It is also possible to keep the size down by carefully pruning the fruit tree each year.
Amongst the most useful of fruit trees for the gardener with only a small space for a backyard, is the spur apple tree. While the tree can still grow up to 1.8m high it has such an upright habit that it often looks rather strange covered in a multitude of ripened apples.
You are not just limited to dwarf fruit trees, no, there are a large number of different fruits available in dwarf varieties such as pears, peaches, nectarines, figs, cherries, Kiwi fruit, plums and hazelnuts.
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