Plant them this fall - fruit trees in your landscape

Flower & Garden Magazine, August-Sept, 1985 by Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare

Plant them this fall-- Fruit Trees in Your Landscape

Late autumn is an ideal time for home growers to plant fruit trees in many areas of the country. And now that fruit trees are available from most nurseries in three or four sizes (miniature, dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard), the home owner can easily incorporate fruit trees into his landscape plan.

As the map indicates, a large area of mainland U.S. is suitable for planting fruit trees in fall. Fruit growers who live in the southern half of planting Zone 5 or in Zones 6 through 9 (U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Map)--which includes the area south of the Mason-Dixon line in the east, the southwestern states, most of California and the coastal regions of Oregon and Washington--can successfully plant in the fall.

Fruit trees add an extra dimension to a landscape. Of prime importance is the good-tasting, healthy fruit they produce. Fruit trees also offer all-season ornamental beauty to a yard--their colorful blossoms in spring are followed by attractive foliage and the developing fruit. Properly cared for, fruit trees will provide beauty and good eating year after year.

It's a proven fact that well-maintained fruit trees enhance property value. Best of all, the food saving realized with the first harvest often covers the cost of the tree.

According to Paul Stark, III, Assistant Manager Field Research/Product Development for Stark Bro's Nurseries and Orchards Co., fall weather conditions (in areas suitable for fall planting) are ideal for planting new fruit trees. These same conditions are conducive to helping a young fruit tree adapt quickly to its new home.

"Even as the air cools, the soil remains warm and the roots of young fruit trees will grow until the ground freezes,' said Stark. "Then when the trees are ready to grow in spring, they're not held back by limited moisture and nourishment from a root system that's just getting started.'

Fall planting gives fruit trees a "head start' over those planted the following spring, Stark added. "In fact, it's not unusual for fall planted fruit trees to bear their first crop a year sooner than trees planted the following spring.'

Fruit tree planting in fall is done after the danger of long warm spells is past, so the tree doesn't burst into growth just ahead of winter. Fruit trees purchased from a mail order nursery are shipped bareroot. If you buy fruit trees locally you may be able to choose between a bareroot tree and a potted one. "Although a potted tree may look more appealing to the buyer, it is really not superior to a bareroot tree whose roots have been kept moist,' said Stark.

Depending on where the fruit grower lives, fall planting is done between late October and mid-December. "Stark Bro's tells customers on their order acknowledgement the approximate date the order will be shipped,' said Sandra Reed, Customer Sales and Service Manager. "This lets them get ready to plant as soon as trees arrive.'

Those who live where temperature rarely drops below freezing all winter can still take advantage of fall planting, said Stark. "The cooler fall and winter months permit nursery stock to establish itself before summer heat and dry weather arrive.'

He recommends the same planting and caring methods for fruit trees planted in fall as for those planted in spring. Give the fruit tree's root system plenty of room in the planting hole, water the new tree thoroughly with a starter fertilizer solution (one recommended for fruit trees) and then prune the tree properly. "If the grower would remember to prune his tree(s) in early spring, he could wait and do it then. But he might forget to do it in spring, so this is why we recommend pruning it right at planting time,' said Stark. Pruning is essential for getting a newly planted fruit tree off to a good start.

Fertilizing in fall helps the root system grow until the ground freezes. When the ground starts to thaw in spring, the tree should be fertilized again.

Dwarf size fruit trees (trees that grow approximately 8 to 12 feet tall and about that wide) are attractive wherever an ornamental flowering tree could be used --in a front yard, as well as the side or back. A special advantage of dwarf size trees is that the small size makes it easier and safer to harvest the fruit. Most of the harvesting can be done from the ground rather than from a ladder. Plus, dwarf size trees usually begin bearing crops years earlier than standard size trees.

When a small shade tree is wanted, you can plant a semi-dwarf or standard size fruit tree. Fruit trees also work well for fences or border--such as apple trees trained for espalier growing.

Even with limited yard space, gardeners can enjoy a fruitful landscape. Miniature fruit trees, which can be potted or grown in the ground, are ideal accents along a sidewalk approach or patio.

Photo: Dwart apple trees fit well into home landscapes and offer a long season of ornamental value --flowers in spring, fruit in fall, screening effect in summer,--not to mention the valuable harvest which often can be stored long into winter.