How to Select the Best Fruit Trees for your Backyard

Growing fruit is so rewarding and with a little bit of up front effort, you will have years of fruit harvest. When you are establishing your homestead, one of the first steps is to select the best fruit trees for your backyard. This isn’t like growing annual crops that can be changed easily over time. The trees you grow now will be the trees you’re stuck with!

I’ve been growing fruit trees from many years. You can find more resources here at the backyard farming connection:

Contents

Assess Your Space and Growing Conditions

Size of Your Yard

The size of your yard is one of the most important factors when selecting fruit trees. Fruit trees come in different sizes, typically categorized as dwarf, semi-dwarf, and standard. It may be tempting to get dwarf trees for a small backyard, but keep in mind that dwarf trees have a smaller root base and can be more prone to problems. Most of the time I prefer to get semi-dwarf trees and prune them to be smaller.

Dwarf Trees: These are compact trees, often reaching heights of 8-10 feet. They’re perfect for small spaces, patios, or urban gardens. Dwarf trees are easier to prune, harvest, and maintain, making them ideal for beginners or those with limited mobility.
Semi-Dwarf Trees: These trees grow to about 12-15 feet tall and wide. They strike a balance between manageable size and higher fruit yields, making them popular for medium-sized backyards.
Standard Trees: Reaching heights of 18-30 feet or more, standard trees require significant space. They are best suited for larger properties or orchards where their expansive root systems and spreading canopies have room to thrive. If you have the space, these are generally the best trees to grow.

Planning for Spacing and Root Systems:

It’s important to keep in mind your long term plan. Trees take many years to grow and it’s tempting to overcrowd them. This will lead to problems later on with competition for roots and sunlight. Here are some general spacing guidelines:

Dwarf trees: 8-10 feet apart.
Semi-dwarf trees: 12-15 feet apart.
Standard trees: 18-25 feet apart.

Root Considerations: The roots of fruit trees spread wide and can potentially interfere with underground utilities, sidewalks, or nearby plants. Always consider root growth when planning your layout.

Sunlight Availability

Fruit trees are sun-loving plants, typically requiring 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive. While your tree may grow with less sunlight – they may not produce fruit.

Maximizing Sunlight:

Identify the sunniest spots in your yard by observing sunlight patterns throughout the day.
If space is limited, plant shorter trees or bushes on the sunny side to avoid shading taller ones.

Adjusting for Partial Shade:
If your yard doesn’t get full sunlight, don’t despair. Some fruit trees can tolerate partial shade, though they may produce smaller yields. Consider these shade-tolerant options:

Citrus varieties (e.g., Meyer lemon or lime).
Certain plum and cherry trees.

Soil Quality

The health of your soil directly impacts the success of your fruit trees. Well-draining soil with the right pH and nutrient balance is ideal for most fruit trees. It’s worth spending time improving your soil before you plant your fruit trees as it can be hard to improve after. This is expecially true if you have heavy clay soil.

Importance of Well-Draining Soil:
Standing water can cause root rot and other fungal issues. Test your yard’s drainage by digging a hole, filling it with water, and observing how quickly it drains. If water lingers for hours, your soil may need amendment or raised beds for planting. If you do have problems with drainage, you can build up your area so the water drains better.

Testing Soil pH and Fertility:
Most fruit trees prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH range of 6.0-7.0. You can test your soil with a home kit or through your local agricultural extension service. Key nutrients to monitor include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Micronutrients like calcium and magnesium also play a role in tree health.

Summary: How to Amend Poor Soil:

Improving Drainage: Incorporate organic matter like compost or aged manure to enhance soil structure and drainage.
Adjusting pH: Add lime to raise soil pH or sulfur to lower it. Make adjustments gradually and retest to avoid overcorrecting.
Boosting Nutrients: Apply balanced fertilizers designed for fruit trees or organic options like bone meal, fish emulsion, or rock phosphate.

Understand Your Climate and Hardiness Zone

Hardiness Zones

Understanding your USDA hardiness zone is a key step in selecting fruit trees that will thrive in your backyard. Hardiness zones are based on the average minimum winter temperatures in a given area and are used to determine which plants can survive your local climate. To find your zone, consult the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map online or check with your local gardening center. Zones range from 1 (the coldest) to 13 (the warmest), and knowing your specific zone will help you avoid selecting trees that cannot withstand your winters.

Once you’ve identified your zone, choose fruit trees that are well-suited to your climate. For example, apples and pears are cold-hardy and thrive in zones 3-8, while citrus trees like lemons and oranges prefer the milder winters of zones 8-11.

Chill Hours

Chill hours are another factor in fruit tree selection. These are the number of hours a tree spends at temperatures between 32°F and 45°F during the dormant winter period. Fruit trees require a certain number of chill hours to break dormancy and bloom properly in the spring. Without sufficient chill hours, the tree may fail to flower or produce fruit. This is especially important for trees like apple.

Trees are categorized by their chill hour requirements:

Low Chill Trees: Require fewer than 300 chill hours and are ideal for warmer regions. Examples include figs, pomegranates, and some peach varieties like ‘Florida Prince.’
Medium Chill Trees: Require 300-800 chill hours and are versatile for a range of climates. Examples include apples like ‘Gala’ and plums like ‘Santa Rosa.’
High Chill Trees: Require over 800 chill hours and thrive in colder regions. Examples include cherries like ‘Bing’ and apples like ‘Honeycrisp.’

By selecting trees with chill hour requirements that align with your local climate, you can ensure healthy flowering and fruit production. Consult your local agricultural extension or nursery for guidance on chill hours in your area.

Decide on Fruit Preferences

Types of Fruits

When choosing fruit trees for your backyard, it often comes down to preference. Consider popular varieties like apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and citrus. Apples and pears are versatile and great for eating fresh or baking, while peaches and cherries add vibrant colors and flavors to your garden. Citrus trees like lemons and oranges thrive in warmer climates and offer year-round enjoyment.

Harvest Timing

Select fruit trees with staggered harvests to ensure fresh fruit throughout the year. Early-season trees like apricots or strawberries yield in spring, while mid-season trees such as cherries and peaches offer summer harvests, and late-season varieties like apples or persimmons extend the harvest into fall. This approach allows you to enjoy homegrown fruit all year round.

Pollination Requirements

Fruit trees may either be self-pollinating or require cross-pollination from another tree. Self-pollinating trees like certain varieties of cherries and apples can fruit on their own, while others, like many pears, require a different variety nearby for pollination. Plan your tree layout by grouping compatible trees together to ensure proper pollination and optimal fruit production.

Source Quality Trees

The next step is actually finding and sourcing the right trees. While it is often tempting to buy the largest trees, these trees require extra growing time to establish their roots. My preference is generally to purchase bare-root trees that can grow above ground and below ground at the right rate. They may take a little more time to establish but will generally be healthier long term.

Look for fruit trees locally in nurseries or purchase them online.

With a little planning you will soon have a backyard full of fruit trees!!