Hello World! Welcome Friends! What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘orchard’? You might think about acres and acres of farmlands filled with fruit trees and bountiful harvests during fall days. But did you know that you can walk right into your backyard and pick a plump, juicy orange from a tree of the same height as you are?
And it has all the varieties you can think of—from rare finds to heirlooms—aside from those varieties commonly found in most tree nurseries. Would you believe that it’s possible? Believe it or not, yes, it’s possible as long as you know the proper tree care and technique.
Building a backyard may seem daunting, especially for beginners. But the truth is that a little bit of prep work may bring you years of prosperity. One tree can provide you with a decade of supply of fresh fruit. Turn that into an orchard, and you’ll never be in search of fresh fruits.
However, learning how to build an orchard may not be as easy as picking fruits. To fix that, here’s a guide that may help you through the process. And if you need professional help, don’t hesitate to visit Fruit Growers or any agricultural supplier in your area.
Choose the Type of Trees You Want to Include In Your Orchard
The first step in building a backyard orchard is choosing the trees you want to grow—this is also the most fun and exciting part. Most people gardening in small areas tend to get pulled toward dwarf tree varieties as well as columnar trees. But this doesn’t mean limiting yourself only to growing these types of trees.
You can also select any heirloom or traditional tree variety that catches your eye and keep it small. Since you’ll be training your trees to grow smaller by pruning, you’ll be able to choose any tree you want. But you have to make sure that it fits your area and other conditions it needs to grow properly, such as sunlight and temperature.
Plus, be sure to pay attention to the rootstock of the tree. Most tree nurseries have grafted stocks—a fruiting trunk is bonded to a rootstock. This helps the tree produce great fruit and have a healthy rootstock that’ll help ensure a sturdy foundation.
Rootstocks may have different characteristics, but don’t waste your time studying all the types. Nurseries often provide all the information you need. In fact, all you need to know is pretty simple: is the rootstock compatible with your soil and other conditions required for growth?
Furthermore, make sure to order a young, rooted tree in the late spring. This tree will be able to deal with pruning much better compared to an old tree.
Select a Location
Once you’ve picked all the trees you want to grow, it’s time to select a place for them. The factors you’ll need to consider are relatively standard and may not be significantly different from other forms of backyard gardening. These include:
- Sunlight – Does the location get enough sunlight at least six hours per day?;
- Water – Is water accessible?;
- Site Accessibility – Is the location accessible?; and
- Diligence – Do you have the diligence to check on them now and then to see if they’re growing properly?
Plant Your Trees
After choosing the right site for your backyard orchard, the next step would be planting flora and trees. At this point, you’ll need to consider how your trees will be separated from one another. Do you have a small squared area to plant with, or are you planning to build an orchard that’s more of a hedgerow?
When it comes to backyard orchards, the spacing doesn’t have to be 30 or even 15 feet apart. You can grow your trees properly, even if they’re only two or three feet away from each other, since you’ll be pruning for small size, and you’ll want to do it in tandem with other trees. The spacing is like two small trees for every one regular tree.
Make Your First Prune
This is probably the most difficult part of building an orchard, especially if you have trees no higher than five feet tall. Reduce their main trunk to knee-high—around two feet tall. Yet don’t let your hopes down, they’ll regrow and regain their former glory. By doing this, the tree will be able to build a natural scaffold—branches that shape the tree—at a restricted height. This means that the growth of the tree will be limited, which is what you need in a backyard orchard.
After chopping your trees, all you need to do is take care of them in the best way possible. Make sure they’re properly watered and not fertilized—not unless there’s a need to correct the soil condition. And wait until you see fruits coming out of your small trees in just three years, which is faster than regular trees.
Final Words
Building a backyard orchard can be intimidating, especially if you have no idea where to begin. If that’s the case, just follow this guide or contact your nearest tree nursery for help. The first step is always the hardest, but after that, all you need to do is wait until your trees produce the fruits of your labor.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
4 Tips For Taking Care of Your Rugs
The 6 Best Moving Companies in Mississauga
6 Incredible Mississauga Open Houses to Check Out in August 2022
8 Signs It Might Be Time to Hire a House Cleaning Company
Use These 6 Tried And Proven Tips to Sell Your Land Faster!
How Often Do I Need to Have My Roof Replaced?
I’d love for you to join my email list! You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox which will include links to my latest home project posts! Simply enter your address below.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
[…] How to Start a Backyard Orchard […]