An Edible Landscape - Fruit Tree Selection, Placement, And Care Strategies

Use fruit-bearing trees to create an edible landscape. Purchase standard or dwarf-sized tree species, then prepare a harvesting and maintenance schedule.

Tree Species

Standard-sized fruit trees will need to be planted directly on your property. A mature fruit tree may take up a considerable amount of space. Standard-sized fruit trees have the ability to provide ample shade. The abundance of sweet-scented blooms and plentiful amounts of fruit make standard fruit trees a popular choice for property owners who have large tracts of land available for planting purposes.

Dwarf-sized fruit tree species possess compact root systems. Dwarf-sized trees can be planted on land or kept inside containers. Container growing is suited for small, confined spaces. Dwarf-sized tree varieties that are growing in containers can be used to enhance porches, walkways, and other small spaces.

Dwarf-sized trees produce fruit that is comparable in size, taste, and texture to the fruit that a standard-sized fruit tree produces.

Harvest Times

Research the ideal harvest times for the tree species that you prefer. Keep in mind that the trees will need several years to mature before they produce fruit. If you would like to have an abundance of fruit to pick, once the trees are mature enough to produce fruit, you may want to purchase trees with varying harvest times.

Some tree species are noted for growing fruit in the summer. Others are likely to produce fruit later in the year. 

Placement Tips

Decide where to plant the new fruit trees. Many tree species will require cross-pollination. Planting two of the same tree species within close proximity to one another will support pollination.

Create an ideal layout that will welcome bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Select some flowering plant species that will attract pollinators, plus they will help beautify the land where the new fruit trees will be growing. Install a raised flowerbed or small garden display that contains many flowering species.

Care Techniques

Determine which times of the year you will need to harvest fruit. Fruit is mature and ready to be picked when it separates easily from a tree. Hand-picking fruit will ensure that the fruit remains clean. It will also prevent fruit from becoming damaged, due to falling onto the ground.

Hire a local service, such as Caballero's Landscape, Inc., to inspect your fruit trees annually. An arborist will address pest infestations, dying tree limbs, and other issues that may affect the amount of fruit that each tree produces.

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