Fruit trees are welcome additions to many landscapes. The trees provide color, shade and scented blooms in spring that develop into fruit by late summer or fall. Besides regular trees, there are dwarf varieties of many fruit trees that are easier to maintain and harvest. Grow fruit trees of the same variety or different kinds for a blend. Harvest fresh, mature, ripe fruit and eat it raw, puréed, blended for juices or cooked in jams, jellies or savory desserts of your choice.
Plant fruit trees in a site that receives at least six hours of sunlight everyday and has well-drained soil. Make sure the site is away from fences, walls, driveways or structures that could compete for space when the tree matures. Plant in early spring or late winter, ideally.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the roots of the young tree but as deep as the nursery container. Add enough shovels of compost or peat moss to the hole to fill it two-thirds of the way.
Examine the roots of the young tree before planting it. Trim any broken roots, or separate them gently if they are wound around each other. Lower the young tree into the hole and backfill with soil. Do not cover the graft area or trunk with soil. Tamp the soil around the tree to remove air bubbles.
Water the newly planted tree with a garden hose to moisten the soil and settle it around the root ball.
Insert a stake into the ground up to 1 foot from your tree. Wind garden wire or rope around the stake, extending it to the same level on the trunk.
Spread a 3- to 6-inch layer of mulch around the trunk to retain moisture and prevent competing weeds. Keep the mulch 3 to 4 inches from the trunk to eliminate the chances of crown rot.