Growing Fruit Trees

Having a fruit tree in your yard or on your property is great because there’s nothing better than plucking a ripe piece of fruit off the tree and eating it right there on the spot. Store bought fruit is never as good because it has to be picked before it is ripe to give the fruit time to be transported for sale.

If you decide you want to grow your own fruit trees, it is best to have a variety of fruit trees, because cross-pollination is good for consistent production. Try not to use pesticides during pollination either, because you might kill off the bees who may be your best friends for a fruitful year. Be sure to plant them about 20 feet apart and with access to plenty of sun.

Pruning is also a very important part of having successful fruit harvests. Not only does pruning control the size of your trees for easy harvesting, but pruning gets rid of non-productive limbs and increases the productivity of the good branches. This should be done in the first three years of the life of the tree. In fact, during the second year, pinching the blossoms off will help the tree focus its energy on the root system. This will insure better production in subsequent years.

You should also fertilize your trees. First, provide enough mulch around the base of the tree to make sure the root system is well covered. Then, when you fertilize the ground over the roots, use a rake to gently scratch the fertilizer into the soil.

When it comes time for harvest, the fruit will be the sweetest if you allow them to ripen on the branches. When plucking the fruit, be careful not to bruise the precious fruit.