Two Ways to Have Tree Fruits on a Small Place

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Here is one plan for less than a half-acre homestead showing how you can attractively landscape your grounds with fruit trees. Note that tall trees are generally planted on North boundary. In this plan trees are planted as close as is practical and size (spread) at maturity indicated - scale 1"" equals 40'.

IF the Ed Robinsons of five years ago could have talked with the Ed Robinsons of today about home orchards, the Ed Robinsons of five years ago would have been saved a lot of trouble. Now perhaps we can save you that trouble!

Soon after we first moved to our place we became excited about dwarf fruit trees - pigmy trees that produce delicious, normal size fruit in only 2 or 3 years. But when we went to order some our local nurseryman didn't have the right kind of dwarfs and he advised us to buy standard trees instead.

"But we haven 't enough space in our back lot for many big trees," we protested.

"Then why dont you plant your orchard in front of the house?" he suggested.

"Well, we planned to landscape the front with pretty trees."

"Haven't you ever seen an apple tree in blossom?" he asked. Of course we had - so we planted our 18 fruit trees around the house and front lawn. We landscaped with fruit trees instead of shade trees. (Later we discovered that the back of our acre was too swampy for fruit trees anyway. If the roots of young trees stand in water they don't do well.) So we've never regretted our decision to plant fruit trees in front of the house.

We feel that the very first thing people should do when they buy a piece of land - even before the house is built, when possible - is plant a small orchard. The sooner planted, the sooner you will get fruit. The length of time you have to wait before your fruit trees bear seems to discourage a lot of people. But even if you should move before your fruit trees do bear, they'll increase the value of your place many times beyond their cost.

As for the care of fruit trees, our nurseryman gave us a lecture before he would take our order. He said, "Now remember, you can't simply plant fruit trees and forget about them. You have to spray them - just as you do garden plants - and prune them once a year in addition." It wasn't until after we assured him we would do this, that he would take our order.

More likely than not your own local nurseryman will take a real interest in your fruit growing project. It is a good idea to buy from him rather than a far away nursery selling by mail because not only will you get some good advice from your local nurseryman from time to time, but he knows which varieties do best in your particular locality. Many local nurserymen today buy their young stock from famous nurseries all over the country, so if you want something special he'll get it for you.