Fruit Trees are an awesome addition to any property both for their delicious fruit and the beautiful grandeur of their blooms in spring. They do require special attention and care, however, in order to get the most out of your trees and avoid problems on your property.

Fruit trees need enough land to grow and prosper, and they need about six to seven hours of sunlight a day. Make sure you plant three feet from sidewalks and driveways and six feet away from buildings in order to avoid issues with roots growing into the foundation.

You need to consider what type of trees you need and are possible in your climate zone. Many fruit trees need several hours under 45 degrees in order to set their fruit – for instance, cherry trees need 700 chilling hours so Indiana is perfect for this.

Maintenance once trees are planted is very important. The first issue is to understand that the first year that trees are planted, they will require significantly more water than subsequent years when their roots are established. Don’t overwater, however, or you will cause root-rot, which will lead to the death of your trees. One way to retain moisture is to mulch thoroughly around the trees. Fruit trees also require pruning, if only to remove any dead or damaged limbs. It always wise to look up the specific type of fruit tree you grow and provide pruning as is needed for that particular tree.

Fruit trees are subject to pests (because of the sugar of the fruit) and must be properly monitored and treated for pests. Fungal disease is a deadly problem as well, especially peach leaf curl, which affects peaches and nectarines. During the tree’s dormant season, the tree needs to be treated to prevent and avoid fungal infections. Fireblight is a bacterial disease that is known to apple trees, which can destroy the fruit and the tree both. It can be treated during the dormant season as well.

As your trees grow you may want to thin your fruit, which entails picking off smaller fruits in order for the tree to grow larger and sweeter fruits that remain.

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