The vendors at the farmers' market will soon be missing you.
With dwarf fruit trees, anyone can turn a sunny backyard into an oasis.
Anyone can turn a sunny backyard into a luscious oasis with an orchard of dwarf fruit trees.
Credit: Paul Taylor / Getty Images
After all, there’s nothing better than tasting a sun-ripened peach or a glass offresh-squeezed lemonade.
What Is A Dwarf Fruit Tree?
Fortunately, no genetic engineering or modification is involved in making dwarf fruit trees.
Instead, they are created using the old-fashioned technique of grafting.
Rootstocks are chosen for their hardiness, drought tolerance, disease resistance, soil adaptation, and size.
Dwarf fruit treesrequire less pruningbecause the trees have limited root systems and a compact growth habit.
Dwarf trees generally reach maturity and begin producing fruit more quickly than their larger counterparts.
Fruit trees don’t do well in soggy soil and require full sun.
Light
Fruit trees need full sun during the growing season for flower and produce fruit.
Pruning trees properly helps sunlight penetrate the canopy.
Northern exposure is not recommended for fruit trees, as the low light will delay fruiting on your tree.
Soil
Most fruit trees require well-drained and acidic or neutral soil.
Loam or sandy loam soils are best.
If you have fast-draining sandy soil, add compost to help retain moisture.
Water
Overwatering can be dangerous to young potted trees.
Daily watering may not be necessary, but avoid letting the soil dry out completely.
Water when the soil is dry to the touch a couple of inches below the surface.
Use plenty of water, at least until the temperatures cool off.
Many of these trees cannot be grown farther South than Zone 8 or 9.
Always choose a varietyrecommended for your climate.
They are also more drought-tolerant than many fruit trees, making them a good choice in a dry climate.
Citrus trees are evergreen and can be seriously damaged by frost.
They should be watered well when frost is expected.
Covering a tree with burlap can help prevent damage during a short-lived frost.
Many gardeners choose to bring citrus trees indoors for the winter.
Don’t place fertilizer in the planting hole, which can burn the roots.
When planting fruit trees in containers, don’t add fertilizer if your potting soil already contains it.
The fertilizer will leach away after a few weeks.
Fruit trees shouldn’t be fertilized in winter.
Others, such as apples and pears, need another tree nearby for cross-pollination.
Most often, these trees need to be a different cultivar that blooms at the same time.
Many of the following dwarf tree selections are available in varying sizes depending on the rootstock.
Remove any weak, spindly, or diseased branches.
In the case of narrow angled or crossing branches, remove the weakest one.
If you are training the tree to have a central leader, only leave one.
After planting, limit pruning to when the tree is dormant,usually in winteror early spring.
In most cases, remove about 1/3 of new growth to thin out branches, leaving the strongest growth.
For miniature trees, you may not need to remove more than crossing, broken, or diseased branches.
A container can be moved around outside to take advantage of the sun or moved indoors during extreme cold.
Start with a small pot, about a 5- or 7-gallon container.
As the tree grows within its container, it will eventually become root-bound.
Before this happens, re-pot it into a larger container.
you’ve got the option to tell that your tree is root-bound by its lack of vertical growth.
This will help prevent diseases such as root rot from developing.
ensure the graft is above the soil line.
Then add the rest of your soil until the tree is properly situated in the container.
Tamp the soil down around the roots for remove any air pockets.
Some dwarf fruit trees may need a little help to grow upright as they become established.
you might accomplish this at the time of planting by using tree stakes.
Remove the stake once the tree has grown strong in the pot.
Most of these trees require insects for pollination.
Intense heat or cold can damage buds and mean you’ll need to wait a year for fruit.
These are common problems with dwarf fruit trees.
Prune any diseased branches, protect in freezing weather, and keep an eye on soil moisture.
Fruit Splitting
Dry weather followed by heavy rain can cause fruit to swell and split open.
Water consistently to reduce this problem.
Sunburn
Leaves and fruit can scald in very hot mid-day sun.
Move your tree indoors or to a garage when nighttime temperatures will drop below 30F.
ensure to plant the tree away from buildings or taller trees that could shade it during critical sunlight hours.
Many dwarf fruit trees take two or three years to settle in after planting and begin bearing fruit.
Citrus trees and fig trees can start to bear fruit in a year or two.
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