All gardens should have at least on or two fruit trees – no matter the size of the garden. There are dwarf fruiting trees that can be grown on pots, and even ordinary citrus survive will in containers.
The benefit is not just in the fruit they bear, but in the perfume and blossoms. The fragrance of citrus flowers is absolutely out of this world and everyone know how beautiful the blossoms of cherry trees, peaches and almonds are.
So with adding fruit trees to your garden plant mix you not only save money on fruit purchases, but get added beauty, texture, foliage variation, flowers, and perfume.
The climate will decide which trees you can plant. Bananas for example will survive in warmer temperate zones, and apples will not in tropical areas.
While apple trees are one of the most common and easy to grow tree with many varieties, it is good to look at other options – almonds, citrus, cherries.
Choosing a fruiting tree can be fun, and really depends on the type of fruit you like, and the soil type and climate that best suits them. Adding these trees to your landscaping design and placing them where they can be admired and accessed is a great idea to enhance the look of your garden.
Maintenance of fruit bearing trees is important – soil, watering, feeding and tree pruning are basic requirements. Neglect simply results in poorer fruit yields, mis-shaped and unhealthy trees
Removing some of the flower buds early in the season will add quality to the fruit that later comes from the remaining flowers.
Pest control is also necessary as they can cause damage to new growth. Getting rid of pests as early as possible is the best plan – don’t wait until a full infestation is rampant. Aphids, mold or mildew, fruit flies and other assorted pests and diseases specific to each type of tree usually need spraying early before they get a hold. Companion planting with some herbs can also help keep the little blighters away (e.g. garlic)
Fruit trees are a colorful addition to the garden during spring and summer, and generally will be low maintenance depending on the type of tree you choose.