Growing plants in the backyard is a hobby for many homeowners out there. It’s not only a relaxing hobby, but it also gives you literal fruits if you choose the right plants to care for. Different plants will require different levels and methods of maintenance.
Trees, on the other hand, are usually easier to care for. Most of them require little to no human intervention. But what about fruit trees? Is there anything you need to keep in mind if you want to grow fruit trees in your backyard successfully?
Unless you require the services of firms doing tree removal in Utah, read our tips below:
Watering
Once you plant a new fruit-bearing tree, water the soil around it whenever it’s dry. As it grows older, the tree will develop more complex root systems. This means you will have to water it less frequently. But keep in mind, however, that to produce fruits, your tree must be watered sufficiently.
You can skip watering if the soil is still wet after a rain.
Fertilizing
Commercial growers who make a living out of fruit-bearing trees usually require more fertilizers than regular home growers. But in your case, you can opt to use store-bought fertilizer if you don’t have to make your own. Fertilizing a fruit tree should be based on the tree’s current growth.
If its growing fine and you keep its requirements met, a little fertilizer every now and then should boost its growth speed. If after you apply the fertilizer, you get worse results than not having fertilizer, you may be using the wrong type. Consult an expert in regards to your tree’s fertilization requirements.
Spacing
Your tree plants need to grow in open and sunny areas. They should be able to get enough nutrients and sunlight without overlapping with other shrubs or trees. If you want to plant multiple trees, keep ample space between the saplings.
Overcrowding stresses the tree’s growth and doesn’t let it reach its full potential. This may also give you a hard time collecting the fruits when harvest season kicks in.
Planting
Do not plant the fruit tree anywhere near an area where grass is grown. If you do, your sapling will have to compete with the grass for nutrients and moisture. You may also want to keep the planted area well-mulched. You can use organic matter for this like fruit skins and kitchen waste. If you have chickens, you can let them roam around the area once your plant has grown a trunk. Chickens will help control the insects that may want to attack your fruit tree.
Maintenance
Once the tree has established its roots, you need to help it stay healthy. You should always remove fruits that fall to the ground because they could eventually rot there. Also, rake away the dead leaves that have fallen to the ground around your tree.
Some of these may be diseased and could cause a fungal problem. If you need to remove a tree from your garden because of an infection, you can contact tree removal firms so the others won’t get infected.