The many benefits of growing fruit trees include attractive greenery around your home, shade during hot weather and tasty fruits. Gardeners in many climates can grow fruit trees, but the right type of soil will ensure healthier growth and a plentiful amount of fruit production. In general, fruit trees grow best in soils with good drainage and plenty of nutrients.
Fruit trees grow best in well-drained soil with a sandy, loamy texture. They also need deep soil to support their deep root systems. Experts at the University of California recommend planting fruit trees in areas with at least 3 feet of topsoil. Heavy clay soils, overly rocky soils or soils lacking in nutrients can stunt tree growth.
If you are unsure what type of soil your yard has, it is helpful to take a soil sample and send it to a local laboratory or nursery for testing. A lab will be able to make recommendations as to whether the soil needs pH adjustments or additional nutrients. If you just want to test pH, simple pH testing strips are available online and at many gardening supply stores. Most fruit trees prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
If soil tests reveal an overly acidic pH, adding some lime can help raise the pH and make it more suitable for fruit trees. Alternatively, sulfur will lower the soil pH if it is not acidic enough. Because different soil additives come in different concentrations, carefully following manufacturer application instructions to adjust the soil to a specific pH level. Clay soils in some areas have many nutrients and poor drainage. Gardeners with clay soils may not need to add much fertilizer, but they can add some compost to improve drainage. On the other end of the spectrum, a layer of mulch over the surface of the soil will help overly sandy soils retain moisture. Springtime applications of a balanced fertilizer will help amend soil with low nutrient levels.
Potted Fruit Trees
You might opt to grow potted fruit trees in commercial potting soil. You can also mix sand, peat and perlite or bark in equal proportions to create a potting mixture. Be sure to use a mixture that has excellent drainage while still retaining plenty of moisture for the tree roots. To further facilitate drainage, choose a pot with large drainage holes, line the bottom of the pot with screen, and place a layer of gravel in the bottom of the pot.
- University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: Growing Fruit Trees
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Growing Apple Trees in the Home Garden
- Texas A & M University Horticulture: Fruit Trees
- University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service: Fertilizing and Liming Fruit Trees
- University of California, Davis: Fruit Trees: Planting and Care of Young Trees
- Florida Cooperative Extension Service: Growing Fruit Crops in Containers
- National Gardening Association: Improve Soil Fertility With Compost
- Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images