Fruit Trees For Your Small Gardens

Have you noticed recently how many times we are being told to take a good look at our current lifestyles? The amount of information appearing in the media which is aimed at getting us to lead a more healthy life is absolutely incredible. All kinds of diets and exercise plans are constantly being developed to entice us to eat healthier and take more exercise on a regular basis. As we are continually being told to eat more fresh fruit it would make sense to grow our own fruit trees in our backyard but if you only have a small space there may be a few problems to consider.

As we gain a better understanding of what is good or bad for us many of us are choosing to purchase organically grown fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately this means that we often have to pay a premium price for the produce and the difference in cost can be very large. By growing our own fruit trees organically be can make considerable cost savings but we also benefit from the most fresh fruit possible. Fresh organic fruit not only tastes better but it also has more vitamins and minerals than non-organic stored fruit.

Sadly, for many of us, our backyards are only a small space to the rear of our homes. If we live in an urban area it is often the case that houses are very close together which means that it is not really practical to grow large plants. In such backyards a large mature tree can cause a number of problems. The most obvious is that a huge tree will look rather out of place in a small space but such a tree could also encroach over into your neighbors backyard. They can block light and, with deciduous tree, it can also create an almighty mess when it drops its leaves. However the most serious problem is caused by the roots and branches which can damage foundations.

It is absolutely amazing how wonderful a small backyard can look. Even the smallest space can look spectacular. To obtain such perfection requires dedication or the services of a professional garden designer. It is very possible to design the perfect garden for a small space by spending a great deal of time studying the problem and its solutions. By careful design and specific choices about which plants to use, you can create the impossible.

Even in the smallest space it is possible to design a garden that has a few fruit trees. A fruit tree can add great beauty in any garden and can act as a focal point. Throughout the year a fruit tree will change and at each season the tree will looks incredible. In spring a fruit tree will produce masses of blossom which, when fertilized, will develop into small fruits. During the summer the fruit will grow until ripe and by fall they will be ready for harvest.

It is now possible to purchase dwarf fruit tree varieties, these are created by grafting the main stem of a fruit tree to special dwarf root stock. Modern dwarf root stock, such as M9, is more reliable than older types of dwarf root stock. M9 root stock can lead to a fruit tree which remains very small but produces more fruit.

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.

For those extremely limited by a very small space there is a type of dwarf apple tree which is amongst the most compact types of fruit trees. The spur apple tree looks rather like a tree with one main stem or trunk covered in leaves and fruit but it can still manage to reach heights of around 1.8m.

A good garden design should include variety and those with a small backyard will be pleased to hear that there are a number of different fruits which can be grown on a dwarf variety. Such fruit trees are plums, pears, cherries, figs, Kiwi fruit, peaches, nectarines and more. Not only does such variety look great but it also means that you have a wider choice of organic fruit for the table.