Knowledge from Olle Garden Bed:5 Best Dwarf Fruit Trees Suitable For Small Space
A small backyard orchard full of fruit trees is a bit whimsical. You can enjoy open-air lunch and intimate picnic under the branches, immerse yourself in the beauty and aroma of fresh fruit, or marvel at your personal oasis. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
Fortunately, even if your space is limited, you can plant many small fruit trees in the garden. These varieties will not grow into majestic giants, but still retain the charm of lush trees, providing you with enough fruit for at least one season. They are also easier to trim and harvest. This is the best!
1.Apple tree
The dwarf apple trees are about 8 to 12 feet tall and are hardy in zones 3 to 9. To find the perfect apple tree, look for the rootstock marked as dwarf in the local nursery. Some of them include M9, MM106 and M26.
When planting trees, keep them at a distance of 6 to 8 feet and ensure that they receive at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. Test the soil to make the pH value very suitable for their growth requirements, between 7 and 1, and remember to give them<>inches of water every week.
Disease resistant varieties include "enterprise" and "freedom". When looking for apple varieties, please look for apple varieties with short rootstocks.
2.Pear tree
The semi-dwarf pear rootstock can only grow to about 8 to 10 feet high. Pears can survive in 3 to 10 areas, but young trees always need deep watering to promote the establishment of roots during drought. Prune your pear trees gently every year to keep them healthy and healthy.
Plant dwarf varieties at a distance of about 12 to 15 feet from each other to provide them with sufficient growth space and ensure that you choose a place with sufficient sunshine, fertile soil, good drainage and good air circulation.
You can plant many pear varieties in your home garden, such as soft and juicy "Bartlett", sweet "Anjou" and crisp "Bosc".
3.Citrus tree
Citrus trees are most suitable for cold areas between 8 and 11, so people often plant them in flower pots and bring them indoors in winter. However, if you live in a warm climate, the dwarf orange tree is one of the best fruit trees in your garden.
If you plant oranges other than lemons and limes, please choose the warmest place in the garden to avoid the wind. Warmness helps fruit ripen and sweeten. Ensure that the soil is well drained, slightly acidic, and continuously wet in summer. Keep the trees 6 to 10 feet apart and keep a greater distance between the taller trees.
The dwarf variety grows to about 8 to 12 feet high - perfect size. Some popular citrus varieties include navy orange "Washington" and lemon "Mayer".
4.Peach tree
The genetic dwarf peach tree is up to 6 feet high, which is very suitable for a small garden! Great varieties include "Golden Generation", "Eldorado" and "Southern Flame". They are also fast-growing trees, so you can enjoy the fruits of your work in two to three years.
Peaches are hardy to areas 4 to 9 and thrive in sufficient sunlight. Choose a well-drained, moderately fertile soil with a pH value between 6 and 6.5. In most cases, you do not need to water the trees because the rainfall is enough to irrigate the roots. Plant trees at intervals of 10 to 12 feet.
Dwarf peach trees can benefit from strict pruning. Cut off any weak or growing branches in the wrong direction during the winter dormancy season. In addition, remove all immature fruits in the first year to promote the establishment of roots. In the next few years, the small peaches will be thinned to have one fruit every 3 to 4 inches on the branches, because overcrowding will hinder proper ripening.
5.Cherry tree
Cherry trees are another excellent supplement to your small orchard. You can find them in various sizes, depending on their rootstock. Short rootstock varieties include "Meteor", "Compact Stella" and "Polaris". The dwarf cherry tree will also bear fruit in about one year, and can grow anywhere from 12 to 15 feet.
Sour cherries grow best in zones 4 to 6, while sweet varieties thrive in zones 5 to 7. In addition, they also have similar growth requirements, requiring at least 6 hours of sunlight and well-drained soil every day, with a pH value of 6 to 7. The young trees shall be watered every other day in the first week after planting, and the watering shall be reduced as the trees mature. Every ten days, about one inch of water from rainfall or irrigation is enough to plant a cherry tree. Prune trees in winter to promote the growth of fruit trees.
Small trees in small space
Dwarf trees are usually the perfect solution for small gardens. In addition, most dwarf trees bear fruit earlier than standard trees, and are easier to maintain and harvest.