You might have seen the fruit trees blooming this year and were wondering what you can do to get started on your own. We thought we’d take you through some of the best ways to grow a healthy fruit tree. That way, it won’t be too long before you have a fruit tree of your own to provide fresh fruit and brighten up your garden. It’s a shame when we need to cut down a beautiful fruit tree, but with this advice yours is certain to stay healthy for a long time to come.

Starting Out

First of all, you need to decide what kind of fruit you want to grow. Apples are a common choice for good reason, but the climate in the UK is also well-suited to cherries, plums and pears. If you’re willing to put some extra work into your tree, it’s possible to grow some fruits suited to hotter climates too.

Starting off with an older, mature tree can cause some problems. It’s much better to begin with one that’s two to three years old. It will need some room to grow, so make sure it has space to stretch out and get all the resources it needs.

Everything a Plant Needs

Fruit trees need everything a normal plant needs to grow. Since you’re hoping for it to blossom properly though, it might need some special care and attention. You need to make sure the tree has good access to light, and is planted in quality soil. It also needs plenty of water – but to avoid waterlogged soil. For younger trees, it’s best to water weekly from April to September, maybe more in hotter weather. Leaves give a useful signal that a tree is healthy, so if they’re any colour other than green it might indicate that something is wrong.

First Year & Dormant Months

In the first year after planting, it’s best to remove fruitlets as soon as you see them. As tempting as it might be to let the full fruit grow as soon as possible, by removing them quickly you allow the tree’s energy to concentrate on the roots and branches instead. This makes for a stronger, healthier tree in the long run.

From December to March, fruit trees lie dormant. This is the best time to transplant them since it has the best chances of success. For most fruits, this is also the best time to prune the tree – although for stone fruits like cherries and plums, the Spring is better. Treat pruning like surgery, keeping your instruments clean and making sharp cuts, while sealing them properly afterwards.

With this all said, hopefully you’re prepared to take care of a fruit tree of your very own. If you need an arborist to help take care of any of your trees, don’t hesitate to get in touch.