Posts tagged "fruit trees"

Fruit Tree Landscaping in Cold Climates

Fruit Trees for New England

Fruit trees are a fun and beautiful addition to any yard. They will thrive in cold climates if cared for properly. The further north you go, the more care you will need to lavish on your trees, but the resulting fruit is tastier than anything you will find in a store.

Some fruit trees are better suited to New England. Proper care and climate can bring out the beauty of apples, pears and cherries along with peaches. Dwarf varieties save space and work well for the home gardener. Plant your trees in the spring, once the ground has thawed, and expect to wait a year or two before you start to see fruit.

When choosing trees for the New England climate you want to select your trees carefully. Macintosh and Canada Red are among the best varieties of apples. These are hardy and will do well in colder areas. Small home plantings of heirloom varieties may do better then using commercial varieties.

When in New England you will find Bartlett and Bosc pears makes for good choices. Seckel pears are smaller than other varieties but produce a fruit that is almost spicy in flavor and does well in the cooler northern climates. Local heirloom varieties are time tested to grow in your area and do well.

When it come to being resistant to the cold, peach trees not at the top of the list. Since buds set in the fall and then have to make it through the winter to produce fruit in the spring, make sure to pick the hardiest varieties. Fingerlakes and Reliance are hardy even in the cold New England climate and produce good amounts of fruit. Cut the branches early so they don’t have time to set. And stop by your local landscaping supply store to chat with their experts about chioces.

In order to get fruit from your trees you will need to make sure that you either get self pollinating trees or that you get trees that can pollinate each other. In some areas the trees bloom before the bees are out and you can help your trees along by using a paint brush to pollinate the flowers, go from flower to flower and transfer the pollen yourself.

Cull occurs once the fruit tree is set. You may find some types must be reduced as much as ninety percent. If you have questions about how much to cull, give your county extension agent a call. Removing young fruit from the tree will help produce a better crop latter in the season. Remember it is better to have a little well developed fruit then lots of poorly developed fruit.

Unfortunately most fruit trees are subject to pests and diseases. Netting and regular sparying are important considerations when it come to fruit trees. Sprays can be acquired at you local landscape supply store or home improvement store. Spraying schedules vary from place to place, so it is best to consult with your gardening store or county extension office for specifics. Products are available for the organic gardener as well as the conventional gardener, but all of them have some dangers, make sure you take precautions when you spray.

Beauty and function are two hallmarks of fruit trees. Spring brings loads of delicate blossoms in shades of pink and white. There are few trees as grand in foliage as fruit trees. Well worth the effort, fruit trees are a wonderful addition to any yard.

Posted by gardening - July 6, 2009 at 7:08 pm

Categories: Gardening   Tags: , , , , , ,

Small Gardens And Planting Fruit Trees

Almost every month we find that we are being fed a new diet or exercise plan cleverly crafted to make us alter the way in which we lead our lives.

It is true that we all should examine closely our current lifestyle with bearing in mind the we need to be eating a great deal  more fresh vegetables and fruit and exercising more regularly. One thing we may want to do is to think about growing one or two fruit trees in our garden. However, as most backyards are only rather small places, it is probable that you might be rather restricted in the options available.

The vast majority of us comprehend that organic vegetables and fruit are immensely better for us than the alternatives however the added cost is often too prohibitive. We also understand that the more fresh the fruit is the  more vitamins and minerals it contains. By cultivating our own fruit trees it is possible for us to grow organic fruit at a much reduced cost furthermore, because it can be harvested immediately before use, such fruit is also the freshest possible.

The largest number of us live in a city environment where it is common to have backyards which leave only an immensely small place in which to cultivate a garden. Such backyards are not suitable for large mature trees which can, eventually, cause a selection of problems. The roots can force themselves into foundations, branches can force themselves against walls and windows and they also restrict the sunlight. The most obvious problem is that such a large item in a small backyard will simply appear ridiculous.

Even in the smallest of spaces something breathtakingl can be created. Professional landscape gardeners can create the most amazing plans but, with a little time and effort, it is possible to do this yourself. To do it correctly you will need to read up a little to understand which are the best trees, shrubs and plants to use and how to use them.

If you have a incredibly small place the inclusionaddition of a fruit tree will add beauty and interest. In the spring the tree will be smothered in amazing looking, and gorgeous smelling, blossom. By the time of fall the tree will be covered in ripe fruit perfect for the picking. Even in the winter a fruit tree can still appear incredibly interesting and such a tree could be a focal point.

It is now possible to buy dwarf fruit tree varieties, these are created by grafting the main stem of a fruit tree to specific dwarf root stock. Modern dwarf root stock, such as M9, is more reliable than older types of dwarf root stock. M9 root stock can cause a fruit tree to remain incredibly small but still being able to produce an increased amount of fruit.

Modern compact fruit trees can be grown in small gardens as the dwarf variety produces a large amount of fruit from the smallest of bushes. A dwarf fruit tree will hardly ever be larger than 1.8m high but the amount of growth can be decreased a little further by cultivating it in a container. By following a perfectly planned pruning regime you can restrict the growth while retaining a pleasing architecture.

Amongst the most useful of fruit trees for the landscape gardener with only a little yard, is the spur apple tree. While the tree is still able to reach to about  1.8m in height it has such an upright habit that it often appears rather strange covered in a mass of ripened apples.

Besides as apple trees there are dwarf types of fruit tree for example plums, pears, figs, cherries, nectarines and other alternatives.

Posted by gardening - July 1, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Categories: Landscaping   Tags: , , , ,