Fruit trees simply belong in every garden. It's great to have fresh organic fruit on hand depending on the season, don't you think? Some people with small gardens don't trust these useful trees, others are afraid of caring for them during and after the season, and others simply can't decide which of the many species would be best suited. There is something right for everyone. Our guide is intended to familiarize you with the various options so that you can quickly find exactly the fruit trees for the garden that are suitable for your needs. Also find out what you should consider when combining different varieties and which ones go well with each other.
Even if you don't have enough space, you don't have to go without fresh fruit from the garden. There are low-growing varieties that have been bred specifically for small outdoor areas and gardens and come in very handy as garden fruit trees. But what trees are there for small gardens? You will be happy to know that basically every type of fruit is also available in small format. If fruit trees are short in stature, they can be broadly the following types that you can choose from:
- Weak-growing fruit trees
- Dwarf fruit trees
- fruit bushes
- Spindelbusch
- Column or rod tree
- Spalierobstbaum
Weak-growing trees
More precisely, weak-growing trees have weakly growing roots. And if the roots grow slowly, the same applies to the rest of the tree. This so-called “rootstock” is divided into different categories, which are identified by numbers and show how slowly the respective tree grows.
Dwarf fruit trees
Bothsmall dwarf fruit treesThese are varieties that form a thick but short trunk and have a small crown. And the height of growth is actually the only difference to the larger relatives of fruit trees for the garden. Even the size, quality and taste of the fruits usually differ little or not at all. The only disadvantage is that the amount of fruit is of course smaller with the smaller varieties. If you buy dwarf fruit trees, you can expect a height of around 1.50 meters and a crown diameter of around 1.20 meters.
Small fruit tree in the shape of a bush
Even smaller is a fruit tree that is trained as a bush, which you can even achieve yourself. For this purpose, it is best to choose a weakly growing rootstock in order to avoid a strong and wide-growing crown. Sour cherries and peaches, which naturally have narrower crowns, are particularly suitable, but apples and pears and other varieties can also be chosen. The trunk of fruit trees grown as bushes for the garden is between 40 and 60 cm high.
Spindelbusch
The trees in the form of weakly growing spindle bushes reach the same height as the fruit tree as a bush. However, these fruit trees with low trunks require a support post throughout their life. Usually the spindle bushes are more vulnerable and require more care. A typical feature is that the fruit branches grow directly from the trunk, creating a very compact and narrow shape that makes the spindle bushes the perfect privacy screen when planted in a row. As a solitary plant in the middle of the garden, they turn into interesting eye-catchers. This type of fruit tree can also be cared for in a pot on the terrace. A popular variety are the “Ballerina apples”.
Column or rod tree
As the name suggests, these trees grow in columns and are therefore particularly space-saving. The difference to the spindle bush is that this is not the natural growth of the tree. There are only apple trees that grow this way. All other types of fruit that are sold as columnar trees are simply cut in a columnar manner, which you must continue to do after purchasing and planting. This can be quite complicated, especially for beginners.
Spalierobstbaum
TheEspalier fruit tree as a variantFor fruit trees in the garden, a trellis is required. This can be freestanding or located on a wall. Varieties with weakly growing rootstock are recommended. Espalier fruit also requires a lot of care and is therefore more suitable for experienced gardeners and those who can invest enough time in this type of fruit tree.
Ideal types of fruit that require little space
If you would rather plant a “real” tree in the garden, you have the choice between different variants that also fit into a small outdoor area. We have listed the best trees below. There are also popular short-growing varieties.
The apple tree
The apple tree is probably a classic and is hardly missing in any garden that values lots of fruit. These fruit trees for the garden are actually known for their strong and tall growth, but you can count yourself lucky because there are also varieties that can also grow lower and even in containers:
- Braeburn
- Finkenwerder Autumn Prince
- Alcmene
- Raven
- Clear apple
- Pilot
- James Grieve
Pears
Suitable pear trees for small gardens include:
- Santa Maria
- Harrow Delight
- Williams Christ
- Delicious from Charneux
- Dessera
- Uta
- Abbot Fetel
Sweet cherries
Hardly anyone doesn't love cherries. It's no wonder that cherry trees are one of the most popular fruit trees for the garden. If you are looking for small tree varieties, you can choose one of the following. Before purchasing, find out whether the variety you choose is self-fertile and can stand alone in the garden or whether it requires a second tree.
- Gisela 5
- Stella
- Vic
Sour cherries, on the other hand, have a naturally compact growth habit, but should be shortened regularly, otherwise the branches will grow taller and become increasingly bare. As a result, harvesting is of course made more difficult.
Peach trees
Similar to tart cherries, peach trees grow quite compact and low, provided you help with proper pruning. For this reason, you can in principle choose all varieties of these fruit trees. You also get a fruit tree in the garden that is easy to care for. It's best to get information about taste and harvest time from the nursery to find the right variety.
Which fruit tree to choose?
Which fruit tree you choose depends on several things. Of course, the first priority is which fruit you like best. Then you should find out how much space the tree in question needs and consider the right size. Would a dwarf fruit tree perhaps be a better option compared to the normal size? There are also other useful properties that a tree can have. For example, if you want to use the tree to create a shady area in the garden, in which you would like to create a seating area or set up a bench, a normal-sized fruit tree is of course better suited than the smaller cultivated forms.
The same applies if you want to hang up a hammock later. As is well known, this requires two trees that must grow in close proximity to each other and should also be stable enough. Of course, the location and soil conditions should also be taken into account so that the future fruit tree can feel comfortable and thrive. You should think about all of these things in advance and mention them when purchasing from the nursery so that they can offer you the best fruit tree for your needs.
Which fruit trees get along?
Regardless of whether it is a large or small fruit tree, mixed culture is always a good idea for various reasons. It is not uncommon for plants to find that some species do not get along with others. Fortunately, fruit trees for the garden do not have this difficult characteristic. Which trees go best together obviously depends on the location. Like all other plants, each species has its requirements for sun or shade, soil and moisture.
This is also what you have to consider when choosing your tree partners. For example, apples grow very well when provided with moist soil, while pears prefer dry conditions. That makes them less good neighbors. You can combine apple trees with sweet cherries or plums. The combination of sweet cherries and plums is also very good. Plant certain ones tooHerbs or other plants nearby, even pests can be controlled naturally. In general, a mixed culture is very advantageous if planned correctly. In this way, the growth of the plants can be stimulated and the taste of the fruit can be intensified.
Planting and caring for fruit trees
No matter which trees are chosen, they obviously require the right care. However, since the needs vary depending on the type of fruit tree, no general tips can be given on location, soil conditions and moisture. However, there are some things that are part of proper care and are the same for everyone. This includes pruning, fertilizer and planting time, which we would now like to summarize. We also have a few tips for pollination for you.
When to plant fruit trees?
There are two periods when one should plant fruit trees for the garden. Only then can you guarantee that the roots are well attached and the tree can settle in quickly. So when do you plant fruit trees? Autumn is usually chosen for this purpose, although spring would also be suitable if you want to plant a tree. The reason for this is that spring in our regions is usually very dry, which can of course have a negative effect on the tree or can mean frequent watering on your part. In the worst case, the tree can simply dry out. In autumn, however, there is plenty of rain, so planting your new fruit tree can be more successful.
Fertilize fruit trees
It is best to use organic fertilizer. Your compost from the garden is ideal for this. The advantage of such fertilizers is that they release their nutrients to the plants gradually and throughout the year. An additional benefit is that the fertilizer layer keeps the soil underneath nice and moist. It is best to fertilize around mid-May. Fertilizing can be carried out a second time at the end of June, but it is not absolutely necessary. Some trees may also need special fertilizer. This includes, among other things, pome fruit. Simply ask the tree nursery when you buy the fruit trees.
Pruning fruit trees
Many tree owners don't really dare to take the step for fear of doing something wrong. It is a very important part of the careFruit trees for the garden. Only if the tree is pruned regularly can a rich harvest and a healthy tree be expected. The reason for this is that otherwise, due to the numerous branches and twigs, not enough sun and air will reach the inside of the tree crown. As a result, the fruits cannot develop well and numerous less high-quality fruits are produced, under the weight of which the branches that are far too long can even break.
The perfect time for a cut is right after the harvest. But this can also be carried out for harvesting. In spring before flowering, it is less recommended, but also possible if you missed the pruning in the previous year. In any case, it is better to catch up on it than to fail completely. The day of the cut itself also plays a major role. So it is better if you cut the fruit tree in the morning and choose a sunny and warm day. When cutting, wounds are created that dry and close faster when it is warm. An infestation of bacteria is thus greatly reduced. Before and in winter, the rut cut must be avoided!
The pollination and fertilization
The pollination is not one of its tasks in a direct sense, but they can influence them. There are many varieties that also need fertilizers. This means that the same has to be planted several copies of a fruit tree species nearby in order to guarantee pollination. Such trees include most apple trees, sweet cherries and the pear trees. There are even more demanding fruit trees. The apple tree 'Gravensteiner', for example, is such a tree that requires several pollinators. At least two should be planted. Therefore, a larger garden is a prerequisite here. Be sure to inquire about the type of pollination to ensure that you offer the chosen tree everything necessary and can also enjoy a rich harvest.
In contrast, there are also self -fertilizing varieties in which you no longer have to plant more than one tree. This is a great advantage for small gardens. Self -fertilizing trees include the sour cherries. Plums, mirabelles and house plums also have these useful and, above all, space -saving properties. Nevertheless, her flowers put on bees.
