Dwarf Fruit Tree Care

Comments () | | Text size: a A | Report Abuse | Print

Share: | Email |

Overview

Almost any fruit tree is available in a dwarf variety. Dwarf fruit trees bear full-sized fruit in a minimum of space. Their care is similar to that of their full-sized counterparts.

Grow full-sized apples on a dwarf tree. image by "fall apple" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: striatic (hobvias sudoneighm) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Location

Dwarf fruit trees need full sun. They are excellent candidates for container gardening on decks and patios. Dwarf fruit trees in containers can be moved to a protected location if a late freeze threatens.

Pruning

Dwarf fruit trees do not need much pruning. Maintain dwarf trees at about 7 feet tall, remove suckers and prune out branches that are too close together. Prune the root ball of container-grown dwarf trees about every three years.

Fertilizer

Use organic fertilizer about every three weeks during the growing season.

Pest Control

Dwarf fruit trees are extremely easy to monitor for insect damage. Pick off insects whenever possible, and use organic pesticides only when necessary.

Long-stemmed fruits usually do not need thinning. image by "Impostor ;)" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: lepiaf.geo (Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Fruit Production

When fruits (apples, peaches, pears) are about 3/4 inch in size, thin them to about 6 inches apart on the branches. Cherries and almonds generally do not require thinning.

References

Dwarf apple trees
Genetic Dwarf Fruit Trees

Keywords: dwarf fruit trees, dwarf varieties, dwarf fruit trees in containers

About this Author

Fern Fischer is a freelance writer with more than 35 years' experience. Her work has been published in various print and online publications. She specializes in organic gardening, health, rural lifestyle, home and family articles. Fischer also writes about quilting and sewing, and she professionally restores antique quilts to preserve these historical pieces of women's art.

New in Fruit & Nut Care

Additional Reading

Blooming In April
Zone 5 | Blooming
Collecting Petunia Seeds
Zone 5 | Harvesting
Hens And Chicks
Zone 5 | Caring
Midnight Salvia In Bloom
Zone 5 | Blooming
Front Bed Tulips In Bloom
Zone 5 | Blooming
Check Out the New Gardening Calendar

Create Your Own Calendar

How to Prune Semi-Dwarf Apple Trees
...pruning a full-sized apple tree, where the top is pruned in a bowl shape to…
How to Prune Dwarf Apple Trees
Pruning dwarf apple trees is similar to pruning larger apple trees, but these grow out…
Choosing & Planting Dwarf Cherry Trees
...portant to their success and growth. Learn how to choose the best possible dwarf cherry…
How to Prune Dwarf Fruit Trees
To prune dwarf fruit trees, trim back about one-third of the growth each year during…
Growing Banana Plants
growing and caring for Banana plants requires protecting them from cold weather. Learn how to…